Snowden’s Father Arrives in Moscow

Lon Snowden, who lives in Pennsylvania, arrived on Thursday morning at Sheremetyevo Airport — the place the younger Mr. Snowden called home for more than a month — where he told a waiting Russian television crew that he has had no direct contact with his son since June.

Mr. Snowden said that he did not expect his son to return to the United States, where the 30-year-old former intelligence contractor is wanted on espionage charges, and did not give any indication that he would try to persuade him to do so.

“I’m not sure that my son will be returning to the U.S. again,” Mr. Snowden said. “That’s his decision you know. He’s an adult.”

Russia’s agreement to give Mr. Snowden refuge added further tension to a relationship with the United States that has been deeply strained in recent months, and it was a major factor in a decision by the White House to cancel a planned summit meeting between President Obama and President Vladimir V. Putin that had been scheduled in early September. In recent weeks, however, Mr. Snowden has been less of a factor as officials seem focused on a joint effort to disarm Syria of chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, disclosures about American surveillance programs based on information obtained by Mr. Snowden using his national security clearance have continued to appear in news publications. Those disclosures have been coordinated by associates of Mr. Snowden, including The Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald, who had also suggested he might visit Mr. Snowden in Russia.

Mr. Snowden added that he had come to Russia as a guest of Anatoly G. Kucherena, Mr. Snowden’s legal aide in Russia. To obtain a visa to Russia, which is required for American citizens, visitors must have an invitation that can be provided by a hotel or by a private individual.

The younger Mr. Snowden, who won worldwide notice by exposing details of American surveillance programs and has presented himself as a champion of openness and transparency, has become largely a cipher himself since obtaining temporary asylum in Russia in August.

Although he is said to be living in or near Moscow, he has virtually disappeared. One Russian news agency published a photograph this week that it said was of Mr. Snowden pushing a shopping cart full of grocery bags from a supermarket. The agency, Life News, said that it had purchased the photo from the person who had taken it and had not interviewed Mr. Snowden or learned of his whereabouts.

Mr. Snowden’s location and movements appear to be coordinated with the Russian government, if not controlled by officials. Mr. Kucherena is known to be close to the Kremlin, and the coordination seemed to be confirmed by the ability of state media crews with ties to the government to meet Lon Snowden at the airport. The elder Mr. Snowden confirmed several weeks ago that he was in the process of obtaining a Russian visa and intended to visit his son, but his precise travel plans had not been disclosed.

At the airport, Mr. Snowden said that he was eager to see his son and consult with Mr. Kucherena.

“I’m his father,” he said. “I love my son and again I’m here to meet with Mr. Kucherena and learn more about my son’s situation and if the opportunity presents itself I certainly hope that I’ll have an opportunity to see my son.”

Mr. Snowden also said that his son had ceased leaking information, a condition of his stay in Russia imposed by Mr. Putin in public remarks.

“Since he has been in Russia, my understanding is, he’s simply trying to keep healthy and safe and he has nothing to do with future stories,” Mr. Snowden said.

Mr. Kucherena has said in interviews that Mr. Snowden spends his time traveling around Russia in disguise, reading Russian literature and learning basic phrases in Russian.

Asked how he felt about being on Russian soil, Mr. Snowden said he felt “extreme gratitude that my son is safe and secure and he’s free.”

Mr. Snowden also expressed his gratitude to the Russian people and Mr. Putin for the support they have provided his son “in terms of keeping him safe and secure.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that his authority, like that of any parent of an adult child, is extremely limited.

“I cannot speak for my son,” he said, before Mr. Kucherena whisked him back into the airport terminal.