WASHINGTON:US intelligence leaker Edward Snowdensays neither his father nor hisfather's attorneyspeak for him "in any way," according to a statement published on Friday by an online news site."I would like to correct the record: I've been fortunate to have legal advice from an international team of some of the finest lawyers in the world, and to work with journalists whose integrity and courage are beyond question,"Snowdensaid in a statement to the Huffington Post.
"Neither my father, his lawyer Bruce Fein, nor his wife Mattie Fein represent me in any way."
According to the online news site, Snowden said he issued the statement because "it has come to my attention that news organizations seeking information regarding mycurrent situationhave, due to the difficulty in contacting me directly, been misled by individuals associated with my father into printingfalse claimsabout my situation."
The 30-year-old former USNational Security Agencycontractor received asylum in Russia on August 1, after spending more than five weeks stranded in a Moscow airport avoiding extradition tothe United States.
Snowden is wanted by Washington on espionage charges linked to his media disclosures about the secret details of US surveillance programs.
On Thursday, Snowden's Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said Snowden and his father Lon had recently chatted via the Internet. Lon Snowden has obtained a Russian visa and is expected to visit his son soon.
"This decision (to contact Edward Snowden) was taken by Lon Snowden independently, contrary to the recommendation of his attorneys,"the RIA Novostinews agency quoted Kucherena as saying.
By Time Of India
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