Extradition not an option
Russia repeatedly said it cannot extradite Snowden because there is no legal basis for such action.
“Russia has never extradited anyone, and will not extradite,” Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in late July.
The US government has described Russia’s move to grant Snowden asylum as “an unfortunate step” for bilateral relations.
The decision to grant Snowden asylum has pushed the White House to reconsider Obama’s plans to pay a visit to Russia in September, when he was expected to attend an international summit in St. Petersburg. It’s not clear yet whether the president is planning to attend any separate meetings with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The White House says it’s currently evaluating the “utility” of such meetings.