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Snowden Denies Affiliation with Russian Government

RIA Novosti

11:05 29/05/2014

WASHINGTON, May 29 (RIA Novosti) — National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, who is currently living in Russia under temporary asylum status after leaking United States' secret documents, says he had no ties with the Russian authorities.

'I have no relationship with the Russian government at all. I'm not supported by the Russian government. I'm not taking money from the Russian government. I'm not a spy,' Showden told NBC in his first interview to American media, which aired late on Wednesday local (GMT Thursday).

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that the US was responsible for the fact that Snowden happened to be in the Moscow, while Russia is not the type of country that would extradite human rights campaigners. Putin also said his government did not attempt to get information from Snowden about the work of the US special services on the Russian front.

Last year, Snowden leaked information to press about the extensive electronic surveillance programs conducted by the US government around the globe, including eavesdropping on American citizens and foreign leaders. The revelations sparked domestic controversy and strained relations between the US and its allies.

Snowden, who met with NBC's Brian Williams at a hotel in Moscow on May 21, said the US did not know the scope of leaks from their security agency.

'They have no idea about which documents have been taken. The control was so weak and careless that any regular contractor, not even a government employee, could have entered the building of the National Security Agency, take anything they wished and escape with it, no one would ever find out,' he said, adding the US authorities needed to investigate whether similar cases had happened before.

The leaker may have taken up to 1.7 million documents from the NSA, the channel said, citing US officials.

US authorities have rejected claims that Snowden is a whistleblower, insisting that he committed crimes and should stand trial at home. They have charged Snowden with espionage and revoked his passport.

The 30-year-old has been residing in Russia for a little under a year, after the local authorities granted him temporary asylum, which he sought in 21 countries. He is now awaiting renewal of his asylum status in June.