NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Reportedly Applies for Asylum In Russia, Though Immigration Authorities There Deny It

Russia’s official immigration service denied claims on Monday made by international media that Edward Snowden applied for asylum late Sunday evening, reports Kremlin-funded Russian broadcaster Russia Today.

Despite reports by the Guardian newspaper, among others, the Russian Federal Migration service said it isn’t true that Snowden has applied for asylum in Russia.

Nonetheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to have warmed to the possibility, saying that Snowden could potentially stay in Russia if he stopped leaking information on American intelligence agencies.

Consular employee Kim Shevchenko at Moscow’s Sheremtyevo airport told the Guardian that WikiLeaks representative Sarah Harrison submitted an asylum application on Snowden’s behalf on Sunday.

At a Monday press conference, Putin didn’t mention Snowden’s reported asylum application, reports AP.