As of: 09/26/2022 8:07 p.m
US whistleblower Snowden receives Russian citizenship. Snowden has lived in Russia since 2013, where he received political asylum. The US continues to demand his extradition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted US whistleblower Edward Snowden Russian citizenship. A decree signed by Putin listed the names of 75 foreign nationals who are now Russian citizens, including the 39-year-old.
The former secret service agent has lived in Russia since 2013. He had previously fled the United States to avoid prosecution. He had publicized the mass spying on e-mails, telephone calls and Internet activities by the US secret services in the name of national security and published secret documents. The US continues to demand his extradition. The US State Department said it was not aware of any change in Snowden’s citizenship. Nothing has changed in Washington’s position towards the former US intelligence official.
Snowden also wants to remain an American
To avoid being arrested in the US for espionage, Snowden fled to Moscow via Hong Kong, where he received political asylum. He was granted permanent residency in Russia in 2020. He said at the time that he wanted to apply for Russian citizenship but not give up his US citizenship. Russia relaxed its strict citizenship laws a few years ago and now allows dual citizenship.
Snowden’s lawyer, Anatoly Kutscherena, told Russia’s state news agency Ria Novosti that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, will now also apply for Russian citizenship. His daughter already has a Russian passport because she was born in Russia. According to Kutscherena, Snowden is not affected by the partial mobilization announced by Putin. He does not fall into the category of citizens who are drafted as he has no experience in the Russian army.