Isn't that nitpicking? Snowden released some information through the Guardian.

It is only nitpicking if you consider the Guardian to have zero editorial control over what they publish.

There is a supposed distinguishable feature between a user/self publishing website, and a publisher with editorial control. One is considered as free from responsibility regarding the content and get legal protection to said effect (with exceptions like DMCA), and the other is supposed to be responsible for the content being published. News papers has always been responsible when they publish secret information, but are protected under the freedom of the press. Self/users-publishing sites like youtube, wikileaks, facebook, twitter, flickr and so on is not responsible for the content available on their websites (again, with some exceptions). Content on those sites are published by users, and the user is responsible.

One could of course argue that Snowden is ultimate responsible for providing the Guradian the ability in publishing the information, through that would be a slight lie. "Ultimate" would mean that there aren't anyone with even more responsibility, which the term whistleblower tend to disagree with. As such, there is plenty of blame to throw around if one wishes to build a blame tree.

Russia said it would grant him immunity under the condition there were no more leaks. So who is responsible for this leak is certainly relevant.

That said I could imagine this is enough for Russia to make their case either way.

I'm pretty sure Snowden has already refused asylum from Russia, he wouldn't be stuck in an airport otherwise.

I'm a bit confused too.

From the article:

"Classified US National Security Agency maps leaked by Mr Snowden and published by US journalist Glenn Greenwald in the Brazilian O Globo newspaper reveal the locations of dozens of US and allied signals intelligence collection sites that contribute to interception of telecommunications and internet traffic worldwide."

It sounds like the Guardian released this information, but I'm not really sure.

The Australian journalists just "decoded" the references to Australia from the slides first time presented in Brazil's O Globo by Glenn Greenwald some days ago.

iirc he did store the files is various places on the internet, encrypted.