Lawyer : The Russian leader said that he believes that Snowden `` never intended to stay here , in Russia , forever . '' Snowden will leave Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport in the next few days . He is expected to fly from Hong Kong, where he has been living since June 2013 and then travel on a plane that leaves for Cuba or Venezuela via Havana. Putin says U.S.-Russian ties `` are far more important '' than any intelligence scandal . Snowden has been in the airport transit zone since he left Hong Kong on June 23 .
Lawyer : Snowden will leave Moscow 's Sheremetyevo Airport in the next few days . He is expected to fly from Hong Kong, where he has been living since June 2013 and then travel on a plane that leaves for Cuba or Venezuela via Havana. Putin says U.S.-Russian ties `` are far more important '' than any intelligence scandal . Snowden has been in the airport transit zone since he left Hong Kong on June 23 .