OPPOSITE SIGNALS FROM THE TOP
The country's leaders themselves are confused with the situation, local experts said. While Putin gave his cold shoulder, heads of both chambers of the legislative power, State Duma and Federal Council, suggested that Snowden should be given asylum unconditionally on the humanitarian ground.
"No one in Russia fully understands what's going on, and the top officials are not (an) exception," Malashenko said.
Facing the "Snowden dilemma," Putin has to balance possible advantages of having the U.S. secret-keeper in hands with possible consequences of the move.
"So Putin allows the highest officials next to him in the state hierarchy to speak out while not exposing himself," Malashenko said.
Elena Yatsenko, head of the Eurasia Heritage Foundation's Board of Directors, said it is important for Putin to use that situation to reconfirm Moscow's principal position -- if someone is unhappy with his country's political regime, no outside involvement would be welcomed.
"By refusing Snowden's right to continue his subversive activity from the Russian territory, Putin reiterates that all domestic disputes must be settled by the fellow citizens only, as Moscow has been insisting in the recent years," she said.
Quadruplet sisters and their family
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