Russian FM Unaware of US Spy Leaker’s Asylum Request

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden file photo

(RIA Novosti – RIO DE JANEIRO, June 12, 2013) ­ The head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that he has no information about US whistleblower Edward Snowden seeking asylum in Russia.

“I haven’t heard about there being a formal [asylum] request from Snowden,” Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro.

Russia will review the request if one is filed, Lavrov added.

The possibility of Snowden getting asylum in Russia was first mentioned by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who was quoted by Kommersant daily earlier Tuesday.

Snowden, who is currently in hiding and was last seen in Hong Kong, made no statement on the issue. He named Iceland earlier as a potential refuge.

Snowden, 29, who worked for US defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, hit the media spotlight last week after he leaked to press information about an extensive surveillance program by the US government, which allegedly monitored phone and electronic conversations of millions of Americans.

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