Lon Snowden, father of the NSA files leaker Edward Snowden, has arrived in Moscow, according to reports.

The Reuters news agency said Lon Snowden had stated he hoped to see his son but added there had been no direct contact between them. He believed his son had not been involved in any further publication of information about the NSA's electronic surveillance activities since he arrived in Russia from Hong Kong.

Russia Today said Lon Snowden's flight touched down on Thursday morning at Sheremetyevo airport where his son spent five weeks in the transit area before receiving asylum in Russia.

Edward Snowden. Photograph: Itar-Tass/Corbis

Edward Snowden's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, was seen in the terminal accompanying Lon Snowden and they later spoke briefly to the media but his son was not seen anywhere near the airport, Russia Today said.

It quoted Lon Snowden as saying his son would probably never return to the US: "I have no idea what [Edward's] intentions are but ever since he has been in Russia my understanding is that he has simply been trying to remain healthy and safe and he has nothing to do with future stories." He thanked Russia and President Vladimir Putin for sheltering his son.

Edward Snowden was behind a leak of NSA material that allowed the Guardian and other media outlets to expose massive electronic surveillance by the US government and its allies.

The 30-year-old systems analyst has been charged in federal court in Virginia with violations of the US espionage act.