Snowden 'can give testimony to Germans in Russia'

[Janelle2002 3,865]

One day, I really hope the U.S. catches up to this guy, or Russia turns on him and treats him like dirt. Every country spies, why does he think Russia is any different?

Moscow (AFP) - US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden can be questioned by German prosecutors in Russia, his lawyer said on Friday, after the fugitive met a German lawmaker over his evidence that Washington spied on German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, who was granted asylum in Russia in August to the fury of the United States, was also due Friday to begin work at an undisclosed Russian Internet firm.

"Snowden will not go to Germany. This is not possible because he has no right to cross Russian borders," lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told the popular Echo Moscow radio.

"If he does that, he can lose temporary asylum."

But the Kremlin-friendly lawyer added: "Within the framework of international agreements Snowden can give testimony in Russia but this should be decided by the German authorities."

On Thursday, Snowden met with Green party lawmaker Hans-Christian Stroebele over reports that US spied on the German government, Russian state television said.

During the meeting, which lasted three hours, Snowden handed Stroebele a letter, the television said without providing more details.

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German parliamentarian Hans-Christian Stroebele holds up a letter as he arrives to address a press c …

Kucherena said Snowden's meeting with Stroebele was "not bad," adding that the German lawmaker had asked the American whether he could be a "witness in the case."

A picture of Snowden and a beaming Stroebele meeting at an undisclosed location in Moscow was posted on the website of the German lawmaker on Friday.

The image showed Snowden -- dressed in a suit without a tie -- standing next to the flamboyant German deputy who was wearing his trademark red scarf.

The fugitive has handed the German lawmaker a letter addressed to the German government, the Bundestag lower house of parliament and the Federal Public Prosecutor, Stroebele's office said.

'He knows many things'

German public television ARD said Thursday that Snowden had met Stroebele in a secret location with two journalists.

"He proved that he knows many things. He is willing in principle to help shed light" on the spying, Stroebele told the station, adding Snowden declared his willingness to testify in Germany or in Russia.

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German lawmaker Hans-Christian Stroebele holds up a letter as he arrives to address a press conferen …

Some German lawmakers had called on Snowden to travel to Berlin to give evidence on US spying that extended to eavesdropping on Merkel's mobile phone.

Reports based on leaks from Snowden that the NSA listened in on the communications of dozens of foreign leaders, including Merkel, have provoked outrage in Germany and across Europe.

Snowden spent more than a month in the transit zone of a Moscow airport before receiving a year-long temporary asylum in August after exposing massive surveillance by the NSA.

President Vladimir Putin has said Snowden was welcome to stay in Russia as long as he did not harm US interests.

Russian security expert Pavel Felgenhauer suggested that Russian security services were likely to control Snowden's access to foreign officials.

"I believe Snowden is fully under control of Russian security services," he told AFP. "Security services and the Kremlin will decide what he can and cannot say publicly."

Also Friday, Snowden was expected to begin work at an undisclosed Russian Internet company.

View gallery."

Demonstrators hold up a placard in support of former US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden during a …

He had received a job offer from the country's top social network VKontakte (In Touch) after receiving asylum in Russia.

The media-shy founder of the Russian equivalent of Facebook, Pavel Durov, publicly offered Snowden a post in August.

Kucherena has said earlier this week that Snowden would begin work for a major Russian website on Friday without providing further details.

"We do not comment on this information," company spokesman Georgy Lobushkin told AFP on Friday.

Two other major Russian Internet companies, Mail.ru Group and Yandex, have earlier said they did not hire Snowden.

Kucherena has said that while his client was comfortable in Russia and learning the language he needed to get a job because he was running out of money.

Details of Snowden's life in Russia have been scarce. A man resembling Snowden was recently pictured rolling a cart full of groceries, while another photograph showed him taking a boat ride along the Moskva River.

[B_J 2,752]

One day, I really hope the U.S. catches up to this guy, or Russia turns on him and treats him like dirt. Every country spies, why does he think Russia is any different?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

One day, I really hope the U.S. catches up to this guy, or Russia turns on him and treats him like dirt. Every country spies, why does he think Russia is any different?

I cannot believe he is giving out all of our secrets. Does he really think these countries will use these secrets for the greater good of humanity?

[Teddy B 17,252]

I cannot believe he is giving out all of our secrets. Does he really think these countries will use these secrets for the greater good of humanity?

Shame on the NSA for being so lax in who they give top secret clearance to.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Shame on the NSA for being so lax in who they give top secret clearance to.

True, I think he was a spy for Russia all along. They should do better back ground checks, you know. Like how they do on immigrants who have to be in AP for months.

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

True, I think he was a spy for Russia all along. They should do better back ground checks, you know. Like how they do on immigrants who have to be in AP for months.

i suppose you aren't aware of the depth of an investigation for a top secret clearance - which makes AP look like a cakewalk?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

i suppose you aren't aware of the depth of an investigation for a top secret clearance - which makes AP look like a cakewalk?

I am not, but apparently it wasn't enough.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Governments keep too many secrets and Internet technology is so new (relatively) that what the government does with it is surely of interest to the general public. Of course the US aren't the only people that spy. But complaining about being caught for it tis like complaining about how you were the only one in the school yard caught for doing something your classmates got away with.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Governments keep too many secrets and Internet technology is so new (relatively) that what the government does with it is surely of interest to the general public. Of course the US aren't the only people that spy. But complaining about being caught for it tis like complaining about how you were the only one in the school yard caught for doing something your classmates got away with.

I'm not complaining. I just wish the little traitor would get caught.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think he's a traitor. Sorry, I am glad that this is out in the public domain.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I don't think he's a traitor. Sorry, I am glad that this is out in the public domain.

The survival of our country depends on our security intelligence. Do we really want more Boston bombings and 911s? Because him giving up our secrets and telling who we are spying on is what this will lead to.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm not complaining. I just wish the little traitor would get caught.

That's a bit of a party line I'm afraid. Just because some folks got embarrassed about their misdeeds doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot.

[Dakine10 5,452]

I cannot believe he is giving out all of our secrets. Does he really think these countries will use these secrets for the greater good of humanity?

Is he giving out all our secrets? So far I see a list of our governments espionage targets, and since we the people are targets on that list, I am thankful to find that out.

So many people are up in arms over the threat against their second amendment rights. I'm kind of shocked more people aren't angry about this. If we lose the rights given to us by the 4th amendment, the second amendment won't matter much in the end.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The survival of our country depends on our security intelligence. Do we really want more Boston bombings and 911s? Because him giving up our secrets and telling who we are spying on is what this will lead to.

No it won't. 9/11 happened because people were warned but did nothing and different law enforcement agencies didn't talk to each other.

Boston happened because the two brothers had no criminal or terrorist history and acted on their own.

Don't buy into the guff the administration puts out there.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

No it won't. 9/11 happened because people were warned but did nothing and different law enforcement agencies didn't talk to each other.

Boston happened because the two brothers had no criminal or terrorist history and acted on their own.

Don't buy into the guff the administration puts out there.

They were on the Terrorist watch group and somebody forgot about them.