A TV screen shows a news report of Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, as he was leaving by plane for Ecuador via Russia. (File photo)
Russia has announced that it is studying an extradition request by the United States for intelligence whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, a report says.
Interfax News Agency reported Monday that an unidentified Russian source revealed that Moscow was reviewing a request by Washington to expel former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden before he leaves the country.
However, the source added that Russia lacks any authority to either Å“detain or deport” the intelligence leaker due to the fact that he has not officially crossed the Russian border at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Snowden is believed to have spent a night at Moscowâ„¢s airport, after leaving Hong Kong on Sunday.
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said his country is considering a request for asylum from Snowden who is being persecuted by the United States.
Washington has already revoked the whistle-blowerâ„¢s passport, limiting his travel to other countries.
Snowden faces criminal charges in the United States for disclosing the NSAâ„¢s top-secret documents about the US governmentâ„¢s spying programs.
Snowden leaked two top secret US government spying programs under which the NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are eavesdropping on millions of American and European phone records and the Internet data from major Internet companies such as Facebook, Yahoo, Google, Apple, and Microsoft.
Several US government officials including President Obama and FBI director Robert Mueller have defended the secret spying programs claiming that they are essential to the fight against terrorism.
GMA/SS
This article originally appeared on: Press TV