end of an odyssey
Edward Snowden takes oath and gets Russian passport
Edward Snowden poses during an interview with Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter in Moscow October 21, 2015. In Russia he leads a secluded life.
© LOTTA HARDELIN / AFP
Edward Snowden once uncovered a gigantic secret service scandal. Today he lives in an undisclosed location in Russia – and is now a Russian citizen.
It’s been nine years since Edward Snowden was granted asylum in Russia after a Hollywood-style escape from the United States. The whistleblower has been an official Russian citizen since last Friday. “Edward yesterday received a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and took an oath in accordance with the law,” his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told the Russian news agency Interfax.
“He is, of course, happy and grateful to the Russian Federation for having received citizenship. Now he is a full citizen of the Russian Federation. And most importantly, according to the Russian Constitution, he can no longer be extradited to a foreign state,” explained the lawyer.
Persons who wish to obtain Russian citizenship must swear to respect the “Constitution and legislation of the Russian Federation, the rights and freedoms of its citizens, to fulfill the duties of a citizen of the Russian Federation for the benefit of the state and society, freedom and to protect the independence of the Russian Federation, to be loyal to Russia and to respect its culture, history and traditions”.
Edward Snowden on the run since 2013
In 2013, Snowden leaked confidential documents about massive wiretapping practices by the US secret service NSA and other services to journalists on a large scale. His revelations still have an impact today. Snowden initially fled from Hawaii to Hong Kong. Then he flew on to Moscow. Actually, he just wanted to change trains in the Russian capital. But the United States had declared his passport invalid in the meantime. Snowden was stuck in the transit area of Sheremetyevo Airport.
The CIA employee asked for protection in numerous countries, including Germany. However, on August 1, 2013, Russia granted him asylum.
In October 2020, Snowden received permanent residency in Russia. In late September, Russian President Vladimir Putin finally signed a decree granting Snowden Russian citizenship.
Snowden blames the US for his whereabouts
“I’m in Russia because the White House deliberately canceled my passport to keep me here,” Snowden said on Twitter, explaining his decision to become a Russian citizen. “They downed the President of Bolivia’s diplomatic plane to prevent me from leaving the country and to this day are impeding my freedom of movement.”
The 39-year-old had repeatedly made it clear that he had to apply for asylum in Russia because he was threatened with extradition to the United States in other countries. However, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Friday that Snowden had long signaled his allegiance to Russia. Russian citizenship would confirm that status, Price said.
Life in the Russian provinces
Snowden now has two sons who have automatically received Russian citizenship. The whistleblower’s wife, Lindsay Mills, is said to be applying for Russian citizenship. The family lives in an unknown location in the Russian provinces.
Snowden said in September: “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our sons. After two years of waiting and almost ten years in exile, a little stability will make a difference to my family . I pray for privacy for them – and for all of us.”
Snowden himself indicated in 2016 that he would like to return to the United States. The prerequisite, however, is that he is given a fair trial there. He had appealed to Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama, to consider pardoning him, but to no avail.