Russian Security Service Denies to Comment on Reports of Recruiting Snowden

According to Western media reports, a WikiLeaks employee said the Russian Federal Security Service allegedly tried to recruit Edward Snowden, but he declined the offer.

MOSCOW, January 12 (Sputnik) — The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) refused to give comment to RIA Novosti on Monday concerning Western media reports stating that the FSB allegedly tried to recruit former CIA employee and NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Earlier in the day, Associated Press reported that WikiLeaks employee Sarah Harrison told filmmakers, who are working on a documentary about the whistleblower, that the FSB has been trying to recruit Snowden, but he declined the offer.

According to Associated Press, the FSB approached Snowden while he was stuck in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport transit zone without documents after fleeing the United States.

Earlier, Snowden has repeatedly said that he does not work for the FSB. Russian President Vladimir Putin also assured that the country's security services did not work with Snowden and had never worked with him before.

In 2013, Snowden leaked information about the extensive electronic surveillance programs conducted by the US government around the globe, including eavesdropping on US citizens and foreign leaders. Back at home, Snowden is accused of theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified documents to an unauthorized person. Each of the three charges carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

On August 1, 2013, Russian authorities granted Snowden temporary asylum in Russia for one year. In August 2014, the whistleblower received a three-year residence permit in Russia.