Russia rejects US demand for Snowden extradition

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Mr. Snowden hasn’t crossed the Russian border and insisted that Russia has nothing to do with him, his relations with U.S. justice or his travel plans.

In this June 24, 2013 photo, light shines through a cabin window on the empty seat 17A, right, that an Aeroflot official said was booked in the name of former CIA technician Edward Snowden, during Aeroflot flight SU150 from Moscow to Havana, Cuba.

Russia’s Foreign Minister has rejected U.S. demands to extradite National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who has apparently stopped in Moscow while trying to evade U.S. justice.

Sergey Lavrov said that Mr. Snowden hasn’t crossed the Russian border and insisted that Russia has nothing to do with him, his relations with U.S. justice or his travel plans.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, he angrily lashed out at the U.S. demands for the extradition and warnings of negative consequences if Moscow fails to comply.

Mr. Lavrov said that accusing Russia of “violation of U.S. laws and even some sort of conspiracy” with regard to Mr. Snowden is “absolutely ungrounded and unacceptable”.