Putin Blames US For Stranding Snowden In Moscow Airport

"He arrived on our territory without an invitation - we didn't invite him. And he was not flying to us - he was flying in transit to other countries. But as soon as he got in the air it became known, and our American partners, actually, blocked his further flight. They themselves scared other countries," Putin told a group of young people during a trip to the Gogland Island in the Gulf of Finland.Snowden, who is accused of leaking secret information on sweeping U.S. surveillance programmes, has been holed up in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airportsince June 23. His passport was invalidated by U.S. officials, and Snowden has been weighing offers of asylum from other countries and how to accept them.

Putin reiterated his condition that Snowden refrain from harming the U.S. should he want to remain in Russia, and described the 30-year-old fugitive's discussion with Russian officials.

"(Russian officials who talked to Snowden said) 'We have certain relations betweenRussia and United States, we would not like you to harm our relations with the USA. He said, 'No, I want to continue my activity, fighting for human rights. I think the U.S. is violating certain international regulations and intervening in private lives, and my goal today to fight this.' And we said, 'Without us only. We have enough to fight'," Putin recounted, adding, "That's why this situation exists now, but as soon as it's possible for him to go somewhere, I hope he will go."

Snowden told human rights activists on Friday (July 12) that he would seek temporary asylum in Russia, but thus far migration service officials said they have not yet received his paperwork.