President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the American fugitive Edward Snowden would be leaving the country at the "earliest opportunity" as he had landed in Russia without Moscow's invitation, reported RT.com.
"He arrived on our territory without an invitation, 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, in fact, blocked his further flight," said the Russian president.
The Washington government revoked Snowden's passport and warned countries against offering him asylum.
Snowden last Friday announced that he was seeking temporary asylum in Russia and was ready to adhere to Putin's asylum offer condition of putting an end to further revelations of intelligence reports. However, Putin on Monday said Snowden's latest statements were confusing.
"He is familiar with the conditions of granting political asylum, and judging by the latest statements, is shifting his position. The situation is not clear now," said Putin.
Emphasizing that Snowden would leave Russia at the earliest; the Russian president said that the Obama administration was putting pressure on potential countries not to grant him asylum.
"They scared other countries. No one wants to accept him," said Putin.
Last Friday in a closed-door-meeting with a group of lawyers, Russian diplomats and human rights activists, Snowden said he would request temporary asylum in Russia, though no formal asylum-request has come forth yet, according to Russian officials.
Washington criticized Russia for providing a "propaganda platform" to the American fugitive, accused of espionage and theft of government property.
