MOSCOW: US fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is still in the transit zone at a Moscow airport and his future plans are uncertain, a lawyer said after meeting him on Wednesday.
“He is staying here… He is here in the transit zone” at Sheremetyevo airport, pro-Kremlin lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told reporters after meeting Snowden inside the area.
His comments dashed expectations that Snowden, who last week applied for asylum in Russia would leave the airport Wednesday after reports said he would receive a document allowing him free movement.
Kucherena denied that he had been given any such document that would allow him to leave the transit zone as an official asylum seeker
“As of today, this document has not yet been given (to him),” Kucherena said, adding that the process was being drawn out as this was the “first such situation in Russia”.
He said the question of whether and when he would leave the airport was so far “undecided” although Snowden wanted to stay in Russia.
“He is more or less okay, but he is waiting for his question to be solved,” Kucherena said.
“So far he does not plan to travel outside of Russia. He thanks Russia for receiving him well.”
He said Snowden was starting to learn the Russian language and was planning on remaining in the country.
“He plans to stay in Russia. He plans to study Russian culture,” he said. “He does not have so much money but it is enough at this stage.”
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