As relayed by Reuters and Russia Today, former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has received a three-year residence permit from Russia, his Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told reporters yesterday.
“The decision on the application has been taken and therefore, with effect from Aug. 1, 2014, Edward Snowden has received a three-year residential permit. In the future, Edward himself will take a decision on whether to stay on (in Russia) on and get Russian citizenship or leave for the United States,” his Lawyer said.
His lawyer told reporters that “Snowden had not asked for political asylum.”
“He will be able to travel freely within the country and go abroad. He’ll be able to stay abroad for not longer than three months,” Kucherena said.
According to the Russian lawyer, Snowden could even become a Russian citizen if the man “applies for citizenship in 2018 after living in Russia for five years.”
His Lawyer told reporters that Snowden is very satisfied with his IT-related job in Russia.
“He is studying Russian and had an IT-related job. He is a high-class IT specialist”, his lawyer added.
“I should tell you that he can now move freely, he can do all he wants, including going to the shops, visiting museums and theaters. However, Snowden has to think about his safety.”
When his lawyer was asked a question whether Snowden misses his parents or not, the man answered the following:
“By all means he is homesick,” his lawyer said. “It was hard for him to find himself far from home, especially for the first time. Of course, in the future Edward will make up his mind on whether to stay in Russia and apply for citizenship or to leave for the US. He hasn’t done this yet.”
Russia today said that if Edward Snowden does one day travel back to the US, “it’s not going to be extradition,” his lawyer assured.
“No extradition is possible under Russian law,” he said. “He has not committed any crime. He faces no charges in Russia.”
For the time being, “Snowden’s security in Russia is being ensured by a private firm”, Kucherena said.
Nevertheless, his lawyer said that he is not under the Russian state protection.
“He’s without state protection and he can’t possibly have it. To arrange state protection you have to go through many bureaucratic procedures.”
Ned Price, the U.S. White House National Security Council’s spokesman said that “Snowden needed to return to the United States to face charges related to the leaks,” Reuters reported.
“Mr. Snowden faces felony charges here in the United States. He should return to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections,” Reuters reported Price saying.
The Moroccan Times.
