Putin: Snowden in Moscow Airport, Free to Go Anywhere

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated that the former CIA contractor Edward Snowden remains in the transit zone of a Moscow airport, adding that he never crossed the Russian border and doesn't fall under any extradition treaty.

Speaking to journalists in Finland on Tuesday, Putin called accusations against Russia "nonsense and rubbish."

"It is true that Snowden has arrived to Moscow, and it really came as a surprise for us. He arrived as a transit passenger, and didn't need a [Russian] visa, or any other documents. As a transit passenger he is entitled to buy a ticket and fly to wherever he wants," he said.

Moreover, Putin pointed out that there is no extradition treaty between Russia and the US, which makes it impossible to extradite people like Snowden.

"We can only extradite any foreign citizens to such countries with which we have signed the appropriate international agreements on criminal extradition," he remarked.

"Snowden is a free person. The sooner he chooses his final destination, the better it is for him and Russia," Putin further commented.

Furthermore, Putin commented on the situation with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden.

"Just like Snowden, he considers himself a rights advocate and fights for sharing information. Ask yourself: should or should not people like these be extradited to be later put to jail?" the President asked.

Source: News Agencies, edited by website team