Russia is preparing a reply to Washington's letter regarding American whistleblower Edward Snowden's return the United States to face espionage charges, the Justice Ministry's press service said Sunday.

Confirming the justice ministry did receive the letter from the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder July 24, the ministry stopped short of specifying when and what will be Moscow's reply to the Washington government.

In the letter, Eric Holder assured his Russian Counterpart Alexander Konovalov that "the United States would not seek the death penalty even if Mr. Snowden were charged with additional, death penalty-eligible crimes."

The U.S. government also said that the American whistleblower will be tried in a civilian court and allowed a lawyer.

Edward Snowden had applied for temporary asylum in Russia "on the grounds that if he were returned to the United States, he would be tortured and would face the death penalty."

"We believe that these assurances eliminate these asserted grounds for Mr. Snowden's claim that he should be treated as a refugee or granted asylum, temporary or otherwise," said the letter.

The letter said Snowden, whose passport has been revoked, "is eligible for a limited validity passport good for direct return to the United States."

 The former CIA contractor is in limbo in Moscow's airport since June 23, after he flew down from Hong Kong following an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. government on charges of espionage and theft of government property.

He made asylum requests to more than twenty five countries but only a few nations in Latin America replied to his plea. Snowden is apparently planning to travel to Latin America if he gets temporary asylum in Russia.