Edward Snowden in Russia: Putin Says They Will Not Extradite Him

According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin says that NSA whistle-blower, wanted by the U.S. for alleged theft of government property and violating the Espionage Act, is in the transit zone of Moscow airport and that Russia will not extradite him to America. Putin was speaking to journalist in Finland and said that Russia had no advance warning that Snowden was heading to Moscow. He added that Snowden had committed no crime in Russia and as such "is a free person. The sooner he chooses his final destination," however, Putin said, "the better it is for him and Russia."

Snowden had been expected to board a flight from Moscow to Havana on Monday but he did not get on the plane. Following Snowden's nonappearance on the plane and the belief that he was still in Russia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had urged Moscow to "do the right thing" and extradite him to the U.S.