Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said he urged potential candidates for the U.S. presidency not to use the situation with former National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden for their political goals and not to call him a traitor.
"I would ask Mr. Donald Trump [U.S. billionaire, one of several possible candidates to run for presidency from the Republican Party] and other possible candidates for the U.S. presidency to refrain from speculation and insinuations around Edward Snowden," Kucherena told Interfax on July 9.
As to statements of Trump alleging he would be able to agree with the Russian authorities on Snowden's extradition and that Snowden is an absolute traitor, Kucherena said: "It is very regrettable that a respected businessman and politician makes such statements. As he, as nobody else, knows well - and he has gone through many court proceedings defending his rights - how the U.S. court system works. I would advise him not to call Edward a traitor because there is no court ruling [stating this]."
"All words of Mr. Trump are solely populist and are aimed at an election campaign," the attorney said.
"I am asking not to involve my client's name in various U.S. political games in future," Kucherena said.
Trump has said in an interview with CNN that he would be able to agree with the Russian authorities on Snowden's extradition.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.