As of: 09/26/2022 6:48 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.
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.
The US is demanding his extradition.