Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that if fugitive leaker Edward Snowden wants to stay in his country, he must stop "damaging our American partners."
Putin said that Russia will not hand over Snowden to U.S. authorities but suggested the former National Security Agency contractor should figure out where he wants to end up and go there.
“If he likes to stay here there is one condition: he should cease his work aimed at damaging our American partners. No matter how strange it will sound from me," Putin told reporters, adding that he didn't think Snowden would stop.
Snowden — who left the U.S. before he leaked top-secret details of U.S. surveillance programs and was charged with espionage — abandoned Hong Kong for Moscow eight days ago.Putin said that Snowden is “not a Russian agent” and is not working with Russian intelligence services.