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Edwards Snowden still stuck in airport | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has not been given Russian travel documents, his lawyer has said, contradicting earlier reports. | Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has not been given Russian travel documents, his lawyer has said, contradicting earlier reports. |
Anatoly Kucherena told reporters his client would remain in the transit zone at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been for the past month. | Anatoly Kucherena told reporters his client would remain in the transit zone at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been for the past month. |
Earlier, airport officials said that Mr Kucherena had given Mr Snowden the travel documents. | Earlier, airport officials said that Mr Kucherena had given Mr Snowden the travel documents. |
The US wants him extradited for leaking details of surveillance programmes. | The US wants him extradited for leaking details of surveillance programmes. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to hand him to the American authorities, but said he could stay in Russia only if he stopped leaking US secrets. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to hand him to the American authorities, but said he could stay in Russia only if he stopped leaking US secrets. |
'Studying Russian culture' | 'Studying Russian culture' |
Mr Snowden, whose passport has been cancelled by the US, has stayed in the airport's transit area since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. | |
He has requested temporary asylum in Russia, and said recently his favoured final destination was Latin America. | |
Mr Kucherena visited his client at the airport on Wednesday and told a news conference later that the 30-year-old would not yet be leaving the airport. | Mr Kucherena visited his client at the airport on Wednesday and told a news conference later that the 30-year-old would not yet be leaving the airport. |
He said the application for temporary asylum had not been processed, and no travel documents had been received. | He said the application for temporary asylum had not been processed, and no travel documents had been received. |
"He is not planning to leave for now. He asked for temporary asylum, which in the case of a positive decision is granted for a term of one year," said Mr Kucherena. | "He is not planning to leave for now. He asked for temporary asylum, which in the case of a positive decision is granted for a term of one year," said Mr Kucherena. |
The lawyer said Mr Snowden wanted to study Russian culture, adding that he had given the American books including Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. | |
Mr Kucherena said Mr Snowden was "anxious" about leaving the airport. | |
"I hope that this situation will be resolved in the nearest future," he said. "This is the first time Russia is facing such a situation, and this issue of course requires time for the immigration workers." | |
The lawyer's account contradicted that of airport officials, who earlier told local media that the lawyer had handed Mr Snowden the documents he needed to leave the airport. | |
Asylum offers | |
It was unclear whether there had been last-minute political intervention or some other problem. | |
The Interfax news agency quoted unnamed officials saying the American would be provided with new clothes before leaving the airport. | The Interfax news agency quoted unnamed officials saying the American would be provided with new clothes before leaving the airport. |
After the lawyer's news conference, the White House said it wanted clarity from Russia on his status. | After the lawyer's news conference, the White House said it wanted clarity from Russia on his status. |
Spokesman Jay Carney said Washington had already made it clear to Moscow that Mr Snowden should be handed over to face espionage charges. | Spokesman Jay Carney said Washington had already made it clear to Moscow that Mr Snowden should be handed over to face espionage charges. |
The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting America's close allies and traditional enemies. | |
Leaks by the former CIA worker have led to revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting Americans' phone records. | |
On Wednesday evening, an attempt to block funding for the programme narrowly failed in a 205-217 vote in the US House of Representatives. | |
The White House had lobbied Congress to support the surveillance. | |
Opponents of the US, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, have all offered Mr Snowden asylum. | |