MOSCOW (AP) — Former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden won’t have to leave Russia anytime soon. His lawyer says Snowden has been granted permission to stay in Russia for three more years.
Snowden is wanted by the U.S. for leaking details about surveillance programs. He was granted temporary asylum for one year in Russia last year, but that expired a week ago.
His lawyer is quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that while Snowden has been granted residency for three more years, he hasn’t yet been granted political asylum.
That status would allow him to stay in Russia permanently. The lawyer said it has to be decided by a separate procedure. He’s not saying if Snowden is looking for political asylum.
According to the lawyer, Snowden is working in the information-technology field. He says holding a job was a key consideration in extending his residency.
The case has been a significant contributor to the tensions between Russia and the United States.
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140-c-16-(Jim Heintz, AP correspondent)-“year temporary asylum”-AP correspondent Jim Heintz reports that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who’s wanted by the U.S. for leaking details about once-secret surveillance programs, has been granted permission to stay in Russia longer. (7 Aug 2014)
< 141-c-14-(Jim Heintz, AP correspondent)-“Moscow remain unknown”-AP correspondent Jim Heintz reports since receiving temporary asylum, Edward Snowden’s whereabouts have been kept secret, but he’s known to have a job. (7 Aug 2014) < APPHOTO LON810: FILE – In this June 9, 2013 file photo provided by The Guardian Newspaper in London shows Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the National Security Agency, in Hong Kong. Former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden, who is wanted by the U.S. for leaking details about once-secret surveillance programs, has been granted permission to stay in Russia for three more years, his lawyer said Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. Snowden last year was granted temporary asylum of one year in Russia, but that ran out on Aug. 1. (AP Photo/The Guardian, Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras, File) (8 Jul 2013) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
