MOSCOW (AFP) - Edward Snowden could stay in Russia if he stops issuing leaks that damage the United States, the Kremlin said on Friday after the US fugitive told rights activists in a Moscow airport that he is seeking asylum in Russia.

"Mr. Snowden could hypothetically stay in Russia if he: first, completely stops the activities harming our American partners and US-Russian relations and second, if he asks for this himself,"

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in comments quoted by Russian news agencies.

According to lawyer Genri Reznik who was present at a meeting at Moscow airport with Snowden and spoke to reporters afterwards, the fugitive "promised that he would not act to harm the United States".