WASHINGTON—U.S. authorities said they wouldn't seek the death penalty for former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, but Russian officials said Friday they still wouldn't hand him over to the Americans.

Attorney General Eric Holder wrote his Russian counterpart in the hope of persuading Russia not to grant Mr. Snowden asylum or refugee status. Mr. Holder's letter, dated Tuesday, said any claims by Mr. Snowden that he might face the death penalty or be tortured "are entirely without merit.''

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