Russia plans to extend its offer of asylum to Edward Snowden beyond August, a Russian lawmaker said Friday at the World Economic Forum. Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's lower house of Parliament, hinted that the extension of temporary refugee status for Snowden, the former NSA contractor, might be indefinite. "He will not be sent out of Russia," Pushkov said. "It will be up to Snowden." He added that Snowden's father believes his son could not get a fair trial in the United States. U.S. participants on the panel continued to criticize Snowden for leaking information about the surveillance. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., argued that Snowden should be convicted. "Mr. Snowden violated an oath, and that is a fact," he said.
New York Times
