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| US will not seek death penalty for Edward Snowden, Holder tells Russia | US will not seek death penalty for Edward Snowden, Holder tells Russia |
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| The US has told the Russian government it will not seek the death penalty for National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. | The US has told the Russian government it will not seek the death penalty for National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. |
| In a letter sent this week, US attorney general Eric Holder told his Russian counterpart that the charges Snowden faces do not carry the death penalty. Holder added that the US "would not seek the death penalty even if Mr Snowden were charged with additional, death penalty-eligible crimes". | In a letter sent this week, US attorney general Eric Holder told his Russian counterpart that the charges Snowden faces do not carry the death penalty. Holder added that the US "would not seek the death penalty even if Mr Snowden were charged with additional, death penalty-eligible crimes". |
| Holder says he sent the letter, addressed to Alexander Vladimirovich, Russia's minister of justice, in response to reports that Snowden had applied for temporary asylum in Russia "on the grounds that if he were returned to the United States, he would be tortured and would face the death penalty". | Holder says he sent the letter, addressed to Alexander Vladimirovich, Russia's minister of justice, in response to reports that Snowden had applied for temporary asylum in Russia "on the grounds that if he were returned to the United States, he would be tortured and would face the death penalty". |
| "These claims are entirely without merit," Holder said. In addition to his assurance that Snowden would not face capital punishment, the attorney general wrote: "Torture is unlawful in the United States". | "These claims are entirely without merit," Holder said. In addition to his assurance that Snowden would not face capital punishment, the attorney general wrote: "Torture is unlawful in the United States". |
| "We believe that these assurances eliminate these asserted grounds for Mr Snowden's claim that he should be treated as a refugee or granted asylum, temporary or otherwise," Holder wrote. | "We believe that these assurances eliminate these asserted grounds for Mr Snowden's claim that he should be treated as a refugee or granted asylum, temporary or otherwise," Holder wrote. |
| The US has been seeking Snowden's extradition to face felony charges for leaking details of US surveillance programmes. This week, Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said the whistleblower would stay in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been in limbo since 23 June, for the short-term future. | The US has been seeking Snowden's extradition to face felony charges for leaking details of US surveillance programmes. This week, Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said the whistleblower would stay in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been in limbo since 23 June, for the short-term future. |
| Kucherena spoke to press at the airport on Wednesday after reports that Snowden had been granted asylum and would be able to leave the transit area. The reports turned out to be incorrect, but Kucherena confirmed Snowden had applied for temporary asylum with a view to settling in Russia long-term. | Kucherena spoke to press at the airport on Wednesday after reports that Snowden had been granted asylum and would be able to leave the transit area. The reports turned out to be incorrect, but Kucherena confirmed Snowden had applied for temporary asylum with a view to settling in Russia long-term. |
| "[Snowden] wants to find work in Russia, travel and somehow create a life for himself," Kucherena told the television station Rossiya 24. He said Snowden had already begun learning the Russian language. | "[Snowden] wants to find work in Russia, travel and somehow create a life for himself," Kucherena told the television station Rossiya 24. He said Snowden had already begun learning the Russian language. |
| Kucherena said a decision over Snowden's application for temporary asylum must be reached within three months, although he expected the issue to be resolved sooner. | Kucherena said a decision over Snowden's application for temporary asylum must be reached within three months, although he expected the issue to be resolved sooner. |
| On Friday Germany's president, who helped expose the workings of East Germany's Stasi secret police, said whistleblowers like US fugitive Edward Snowden deserved respect for defending freedom. | On Friday Germany's president, who helped expose the workings of East Germany's Stasi secret police, said whistleblowers like US fugitive Edward Snowden deserved respect for defending freedom. |
| "The fear that our telephones or mails are recorded and stored by foreign intelligence services is a constraint on the feeling of freedom and then the danger grows that freedom itself is damaged," president Joachim Gauck said. | "The fear that our telephones or mails are recorded and stored by foreign intelligence services is a constraint on the feeling of freedom and then the danger grows that freedom itself is damaged," president Joachim Gauck said. |
| The president's role is largely symbolic in Germany. The country's chancellor, Angela Merkel, has struck a more compliant tone and has assured the US that Germany would not shelter Snowden. | |
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