MOSCOW: US whistleblower Edward Snowden has not yet applied for asylum in Russia, Russian immigration authorities said on Monday.
“The Federal Migration Service has not yet received an application from Edward Snowden,” spokesperson for Russia’s Federal Migration Service (FMS) Zalina Kornilova is cited as saying in a Monday report by Russia-based RIA Novosti.
The development comes just days after Snowden announced his plan to apply for political asylum in Russia in a meeting with human rights activist in the transit area of Mosco’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
The former contract employee of US spy agencies added during the last Friday’s meeting that he was ready to comply with Russia’s conditions, including not causing harm to the United States.
According to several activists participating at the meeting, Snowden has already submitted his asylum application. Requests for political asylum fall within the competence of the FMS.
Snowden, having his passport revoked by the US and stuck in Moscow since June 23 when he arrived there from Hong Kong, had sought asylum in several European and Latin African countries and he has received offers of asylum from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
