Pksecurity
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Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to have caved in finally to the US pressure over extradition of Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower. He has indicated that he would not like to sacrifice Russo-US relations for Snowden. Reuters has quoted him as saying that he did not want a dispute over the fate of former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to derail Russia's relations with the United States. At the same time, his government has ruled out extraditing Snowden, wanted by Washington for leaking details of U.S. surveillance programs, and the U.S. citizen is currently stuck in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
Putin is in a difficult situation. If he allows the NSA leaker to stay in Russia, even temporarily, it may jeopardize a planned Moscow summit with President Barack Obama in September, their first in Russia since he started a new term last year, or cloud the atmosphere at a subsequent G20 summit in St Petersburg. On the other hand, he runs the risk of falling from popular favor with his people if he is seen caving in to American pressure. Though he has tried to put up a brave face saying that bilateral relations are far more important than squabbles about the activities of the secret services, but in the hearts of his heart, he knows the implications of proving safe lodging to Snowden.
Snowden, who is temporarily lodged in Russia, has put his hosts in a difficult situation by making a formal request for temporary asylum. What would be the fate of this request, nobody knows for sure because even Putin has not indicated that Snowden would get asylum. For Russia, keeping the US in good humor is the major challenge at the time.
But would the Russians sacrifice Snowden to keep their relations with the US on track is something which is in the offing. If Putin is a realist politician, he would certainly go ahead with Snowden extradition. He disclosed that Russia had warned Snowden that any action by him that could cause damage to Russian-American relations would be unacceptable. This says it all.
It is now clear that Putin would try to convince the Americans that temporary asylum to Snowden would not mean challenging the US. If the Americans are equally interested to save mutual relations, they might listen but the chances are that Mr Putin would have to cave in. In that case, the fate of NSA whistleblower is sealed already.
Putin indicates he may cave in to US pressure over Snowden
Putin is in a difficult situation. If he allows the NSA leaker to stay in Russia, even temporarily, it may jeopardize a planned Moscow summit with President Barack Obama in September, their first in Russia since he started a new term last year, or cloud the atmosphere at a subsequent G20 summit in St Petersburg. On the other hand, he runs the risk of falling from popular favor with his people if he is seen caving in to American pressure. Though he has tried to put up a brave face saying that bilateral relations are far more important than squabbles about the activities of the secret services, but in the hearts of his heart, he knows the implications of proving safe lodging to Snowden.
Snowden, who is temporarily lodged in Russia, has put his hosts in a difficult situation by making a formal request for temporary asylum. What would be the fate of this request, nobody knows for sure because even Putin has not indicated that Snowden would get asylum. For Russia, keeping the US in good humor is the major challenge at the time.
But would the Russians sacrifice Snowden to keep their relations with the US on track is something which is in the offing. If Putin is a realist politician, he would certainly go ahead with Snowden extradition. He disclosed that Russia had warned Snowden that any action by him that could cause damage to Russian-American relations would be unacceptable. This says it all.
It is now clear that Putin would try to convince the Americans that temporary asylum to Snowden would not mean challenging the US. If the Americans are equally interested to save mutual relations, they might listen but the chances are that Mr Putin would have to cave in. In that case, the fate of NSA whistleblower is sealed already.
Putin indicates he may cave in to US pressure over Snowden
