Former US Senate candidate Mark Dankof says the Obama administration is harming its relations with Russia over American intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.
Å“I would urge Vladimir Putin to help Edward Snowden in any way possible and to basically inform the present regime in the United States that the Russians are going to protect Snowdenâ„¢s interests,” he said in a phone interview with Press TV on Thursday.
Å“I think the president of Russia Vladimir Putin needs to stick to his cons and simply to inform President Obama that to extent there is harm going on to American-Russian relations itâ„¢s because of policies the Obama administration and their supporters on both sides of the isle in the American Congress,” Dankof added.
He made the remarks after American officials warned Russia against giving refuge to Snowden after reports that he has been given documents to leave an airport in Moscow.
Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Russia is provoking a diplomatic crisis with its reported granting of refuge to Snowden.
Å“I repeat my message to Russia that providing any refuge to Edward Snowden will be harmful to US-Russia relations,” Menendez said in a statement.
Å“Edward Snowden is a fugitive who should be prosecuted in the US for the serious allegations of espionage. Snowden remains in possession of sensitive documents, and for Russia or any nation to grant him asylum or safe passage directly concerns our national security priorities,” he added.
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Republished from: Press TV