WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is criticizing Russia for allowing activists to meet with National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden at Moscow's airport.

Spokesman Jay Carney says Friday's meeting amounted to a "propaganda platform" for the man the Obama administrations wants Russia to return to the U.S. to face multiple charges of leaking classified information.

Carney says the meeting runs counter to the Russian government's declarations of neutrality in the matter and statements that it has no control over Snowden's presence at the airport. Snowden is believed to have been in the Moscow airport's transit zone since June 23, when he arrived from Hong Kong. He left the U.S. for Hong Kong before his revelations were made public.