Snowden won’t be tortured or executed, US tells Russia

The United States has made a formal promise to Russia not to torture or execute Edward Snowden if he is sent home to face charges of illegally disclosing government secrets, and the Kremlin said Russian and US security agencies are in talks over his fate.

The 30-year-old former US spy agency contractor has been stuck in the transit area of a Moscow airport for more than a month despite Washington’s calls to hand him over.

Russia has refused to extradite Snowden, who leaked details of a secret US surveillance programme including phone and internet data, and is now considering his request for a temporary asylum.