MOSCOW, July 22 (RAPSI) - NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden did not cross the Russian border, a source in the transit authorities told RIA Novosi on Monday.  Snowden is still in the transit area of Sheremetyevo Airport.

Edward Snowden, 30, admitted to leaking a secret court order to the media in early June, according to which US telecom company Verizon was required to provide data from millions of customers to the US authorities for three months. He also claims an Internet scouring program code-named PRISM allowed the NSA and the FBI to tap into nine US Internet companies and to gather all kinds of information from users, including videos, emails, searches and images.

On June 14, the US authorities charged Snowden under three articles, each of them stipulating punishment of up to 10 years in prison. Two of the charges were brought under the 1917 Espionage Act.

On June 23, Snowden arrived in Moscow .On July 12, he said at a meeting with human rights organizations that he wanted to stay in Russia and that he would be asking for asylum.

On July 16, the Federal Migration Service received an official request for asylum from Snowden.