The father of US whistleblower Edward Snowden arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet his son, who has been given asylum in Russia.
Lon Snowden said during a televised press conference early on Thursday that his son was free and safe in Russia, while he had doubts that he could return to the US safely.
The elder Snowden was speaking at Sheremetyevo airport, where his son was stuck for almost five weeks this summer, after fleeing from a US extradition request in Hong Kong. Lon Snowden was accompanied by Grigory Kucherena, who has acted as his son’s lawyer in the past months.
Lon Snowden said in his view his son was not a traitor.
The US is seeking Snowden’s extradition in order to prosecute him on espionage charges. Russia granted the former US intelligence contractor temporary asylum for one year, until the end of July 2014.
Snowden’s exact whereabouts are unknown.