Moscow, July 26 - U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Russia, set for September, may be cancelled over former CIA contractor Edward Snowden's presence in Russia and the Russian authorities' slow-moving decision making on this problem, said Foreign and Defense Policy Council Chairman Fyodor Lukyanov.
“Obama’s visit may find itself in jeopardy. The longer the situation persists, the longer the administration and officials continue advancing claims and arguing that he should be extradited, the more likely is Obama visit’s cancellation if these demands are not met,” Lukyanov told Interfax on Friday.
Russia’s continuing wavering on Snowden’s temporary refuge is counterproductive, he said. “The visit depends on, first, how quickly Russia will venture to declare that he is leaving the transit area of the Sheremetyevo airport. Second, it depends on how the U.S. administration will interpret it. If it interpret this the way its has publicly announced, it would be an insult. The visit will be out of the question then,” he also said.
Russia’s decision to grant temporary refuge to Snowden would raise one of more wave of accusations against Moscow and spoil bilateral relations, Lukyanov said.
“This will complicate and has already complicated bilateral relations . But these complications cannot be avoided in this case. The goal the United States wants to achieve – Snowden’s extradition – cannot be attained. Snowden’s presence in Russia would definitely cloud relations and raise one more wave of accusations against Russia. In fact, it has been raised already with calls to introduced sanctions and to boycott the Olympic Games. I don’t think all this will lead to anything real, but this reflects the general atmosphere,” the Russian expert said.
Asked if Washington has levers to influence the situation surrounding Snowden, he gave a negative answer.
