[codex]

I wonder if Russia is setting up Snowden for eviction. If Russia knows that newspapers will soon publish more Snowden leaks, it can publically demand that Snowden stop leaking and then kick him out when the leaks inevitably appear--even though the leaks have, in fact, already occurred. In this way, Russia complies with U.S. demands without appearing to just hand him over.

[sneak]

Putin's direct quotes in the article are entirely unambiguous: he's not getting handed over/kicked out, just that he won't get asylum.

Also, he's not leaking anything anymore, as all the data's been handed off to journos already. Technically his role in all of this is done now—his is now but to do and die.