Edward Snowden claims reports that Russia may send him back to US as ‘gift’ to Donald Trump prove he is not a spy
Snowden has been living in exile in Moscow, facing charges in the US including violations of the US Espionage Act for leaking documents about secret mass surveillance programmes
Whistle-blower Edward Snowden has seized on a report suggesting Russia is considering sending
him back to the US as a “gift” to President Donald Trump, claiming the story proves he is not a spy.
“Finally: irrefutable evidence that I never cooperated with Russian intel,” he wrote on Twitter. “No country trades away spies, as the rest would fear they’re next.”
Snowden was responding to a report by NBC which stated US intelligence had collected information that Russia wanted to hand Snowden over in order to “curry favour” with Trump, who has said the former NSA contractor is a “traitor” and a “spy” who deserves to be executed.
The report – based on two sources in the intelligence community – said the intelligence had been gathered since Trump’s inauguration.
Russia granted Snowden asylum in 2013 and a three-year residency in 2014. Snowden has been living in exile in Moscow, facing charges in the US including violations of the US Espionage Act for leaking documents about secret mass surveillance programmes.