Russian law does not limit length of Snowden’s stay in transit zone

Russian laws do not limit the amount time that Edward Snowden can stay inside the transit zone of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, and international law does not allow Russia to simply return the whistleblower to the US, Russia's Justice Ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that according to the country’s laws, former CIA employer Snowden can stay inside the international transit zone for as long as he pleases, even though his travel documents were revoked by the US. The whistleblower has been inside Shereme- tyevo airport since arriving in Moscow on June 23.

"Russian law does not stipulate the duration of time for which a foreign citizen may stay in the airport's transit zone or liability for staying for a long time in an airport's transit zone without documents," the ministry told Interfax news agency.