President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to former U.S. safety contractor Edward Snowden, in response to a decree signed by the Russian chief on Monday.
Snowden is considered one of 75 overseas nationals listed by the decree as being granted Russian citizenship. The decree was printed on an official authorities web site.
Snowden, a former contractor with the U.S. Nationwide Safety Company, has been dwelling in Russia since 2013 to flee prosecution within the U.S. after leaking categorised paperwork detailing authorities surveillance packages.
He was granted everlasting residency in 2020 and mentioned on the time that he deliberate to use for Russian citizenship, with out renouncing his U.S. citizenship.
Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, informed Russia's state information company RIA Novosti that the previous contractor's spouse Lindsay Mills, an American who has been dwelling with him in Russia, may also be making use of for a Russian passport.
The couple had a baby in December 2020.
Snowden, who has saved a low profile in Russia and infrequently criticized Russian authorities insurance policies on social media, mentioned in 2019 that he was keen to return to the U.S. if he is assured a good trial.
"I want to return to the USA. That's the final purpose," Snowden informed CBS Information in 2019. "But when I am gonna spend the remainder of my life in jail, the one backside line demand that we've to conform to is that not less than I get a good trial. And that's the one factor the federal government has refused to ensure as a result of they will not present entry to what's known as a public curiosity protection."
He hasn't commented on being granted Russian citizenship.
Putin final week introduced a mobilization of Russian males to contribute to the military's combat in Ukraine and Kucherena mentioned that Snowden wouldn't be known as as much as serve given he had no prior expertise within the Russian military.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in the meantime informed information businesses that Snowden had obtained Russian citizenship on account of his personal request.
AFP contributed to this report.