Snowden to remain in Moscow airport transit zone pending 'temporary asylum' request resolution

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena has reportedly said that the US 'fugitive' has not been provided with Russian travel documents and he would remain in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport where he has been stuck from the past one month.

According to the BBC, earlier airport officials had said that Kucherena has given Snowden his travel documents; however, he denied the rumours and said that the application for temporary asylum had not been processed, and no travel documents had been received.

Kucherena said that Snowden is not planning to leave for now and his request for temporary asylum, which if granted, would mean for a term of one year.

The report said that Snowden wants to study Russian culture and Kucherena said that he had given the American books including Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.

Snowden who has been charged with espionage by the US favours Latin America as his final destination for his political asylum. However, with a revoked passport his only option is to seek temporary asylum in Russia before heading to Latin America.

The report said that Snowden's issue has soured ties between US and the countries aiding him or linked to his revelations about the secret surveillance program carried out by the NSA.

Kucherena further said that this is the first time Russia is facing such a situation, and this issue requires time for the immigration workers, the report added.