Russians See Snowden as a Whistleblower

Polls show they see him as somebody trying to warn the public of surveillance abuses

Most Russians believe that fugitive former US intelligence worker Edward Snowden had only wanted the world to know about the American government infringing on private lives, a new poll showed Thursday.

Only 26 percent of respondents to the state survey, conducted last month, said Snowden's move was directed "at discrediting American special services … and tarnishing the reputation of the American government."

Fifty-two percent said Snowden "wanted to open the eyes of international society to the activities of special services and inform people about the danger of intrusion in their private lives."