(CNSNews.com) – Secretary of State John Kerry warned Monday that Russia was "on notice" with regard to the U.S. request to hand over the indicted former National Security Agency consultant Edward Snowden, even as Chinese officials played down concerns about soured relations with the U.S. over the decision to let the fugitive leave Chinese soil.
As of early Tuesday Snowden, who is wanted in the U.S. for leaking secrets to the media, was believed still to be at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, his first destination after flying out of Hong Kong on an Aeroflot flight on Sunday. With Iceland and Ecuador among countries reportedly considering his request for asylum, the U.S. government warned countries around the world not to harbor him.
Among the revelations made by Snowden over recent weeks were claims of NSA surveillance on targets in China and Russia – specifically, hacking of Chinese cellphone companies and interception of then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's communications while he was visiting Britain in 2009.
Russian officials on Tuesday rejected U.S. calls to expel National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, denying that he was in their custody or receiving their assistance.
The former defense contractor, who revealed classified information on secret surveillance programs and is wanted on federal espionage charges, is believed to be in Moscow after he fled Hong Kong on Sunday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, denied those claims.
"He has not crossed the Russian border," said Lavrov, according to reports. "We consider the attempts to put blame on the Russian side … absolutely groundless and unacceptable."
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/06/25/white-house-warns-russia-they-are-on-notice-and-better-hand-over-snowden-or-face-the-wrath-of-chicago-jesus/
too bad the rest of us will have to suffer as well
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