(CNN) -- Edward Snowden douses the idea of his returning to the United States -- where he faces charges of espionage and theft of government property for leaking sensational details of spy programs -- saying he won't come back unless laws are changed. Asked by CNN's Jake Tapper in an online chat Thursday about conditions for a return home, Snowden said that while his coming back "is the best resolution" for all parties, "it's unfortunately not possible in the face of current whistle-blower protection laws." He pointed out that the government's Whistleblower Protection Act doesn't cover someone like him, a former government contractor.
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Now in Russia, Snowden is charged in the United States with espionage
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He says U.S. must change whistle-blower protections before he comes back
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Ex-government contractor slams what he calls "indiscriminate mass surveillance"
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He says U.S. "can correct the laws, restrain the overreach of agencies"
Snowden offered his remarks from @placeholder, where he's been since June having been granted a one-year asylum.