No Momentum: Snowden Still Stuck in Russia

There are no signs that fugitive data leaker Edward Snowden will be boarding a flight to any of his Latin American asylum destinations anytime soon.

'No invitation'

Asked what Mr Snowden's future was, the Russian president said: "How should I know? It's his life."

"He came to our territory without invitation. And we weren't his final destination... But the moment he was in the air... our American partners, in fact, blocked his further flight," he said.

"They have spooked all the other countries, nobody wants to take him and in that way, in fact, they have themselves blocked him on our territory."[...]

The American has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request. However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in.

But he is unable to leave the transit zone without asylum documents, a valid passport or a Russian visa - he reportedly has none of these.

And some European countries are likely to close their airspace to any plane suspected of carrying the fugitive.

At a news conference on Friday, Mr Snowden said he was seeking temporary asylum in Russia before he could safely travel to Latin America. However, Moscow officials say they have so far received no such request.

Putin hopes Snowden will leave Russia soon

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that NSA leaker Edward Snowden would leave the country at the "earliest opportunity," RT.com reports.

"As soon as there is an opportunity for him to move elsewhere, I hope he will do that. He is familiar with the conditions of granting political asylum, and judging by the latest statements, is shifting his position. The situation is not clear now," Putin said, according to the Russian news site.

Putin's remarks indicated that it is increasingly unlikely that Russia will offer political asylum to the 30-year-old former defense contractor.