Whistleblowing

Moscow Denies Russia Mulling Giving Snowden as 'Gift' to Trump

Amid reports that Moscow is considering handing over NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden as a “gift” to U.S. President Donald Trump, a Russian government spokesperson said Monday that the Kremlin and the White House have not discussed the matter, Russia’s state TASS agency reported.

"No, this issue (Snowden’s fate) was not raised," presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday, adding that Russian officials have not taken a position on whether Snowden should be extradited to the U.S. or granted Russian citizenship.

"The issue was not raised (during the Russian-US contacts),” Peskov said. “At the moment it is not among bilateral issues.”