Snowden to meet with activists, lawyers

The video clip of Russian national TV news program on July 12, 2013 shows a news anchor talking about former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden in Moscow, Russia. Edward Snowden planned to meet Russian activists, lawyers as well as representatives from other organizations on Friday, the Interfax news agency reported. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden planned to meet with Russian activists, lawyers as well as representatives from other organizations on Friday, Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport authority confirmed.

Snowden proposed the meeting at Sheremetyevo international airport at about 17:00 Moscow time (1300 GMT), a press officer at the airport told Xinhua via phone.

Journalists are allowed to report at the public zone, but it was not clear whether the meeting would be at the transit zone or any other places, said the official.

The whistleblower intended to demonstrate his attitude toward the US government's campaign of his persecution, "as a result of which passengers of flights bound for Latin American countries are now in danger," the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source at the airport administration as saying.

He was also preparing a statement condemning the US administration's encroachments on international laws, local media reported.

Russian and foreign human rights activists, lawyers and parliamentarians were invited to the meeting. Top Russian lawyers Genry Reznik and Anatoli Kucherena confirmed to Xinhua they got the invitations and would meet with Snowden at the airport.

Russian commissioner for human rights Vladimir Lukin also received the invitation. He said he was ready to meet Snowden who is still in the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo airport.

Snowden did not ask for meeting with Kremlin representatives, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The spokesperson said that it was not an issue of the Kremlin, and the Russian government "has nothing to do with either Snowden or his problem."

Snowden, charged by the US government with three felonies, including two under the Espionage Act, arrived at the airport on June 23. He could neither cross the Russian border, nor buy another air ticket out since he does not have a Russian visa while his US passport was annulled.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities said Caracas would contact the Russian government on security measures and provide humanitarian asylum to Snowden in accordance with international law regardless of an extradition demand from the United States.