Putin grants Russian citizenship to whistleblower Edward Snowden
Created: 09/26/2022, 20:16
By: Julia Volkenand
Edward Snowden is now a Russian citizen (archive image).
© imago/Henrique Casinhas
US whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted Russian citizenship after years in exile.
MOSCOW - US whistleblower and former NSA agent Edward Snowden is now a Russian citizen.
President Vladimir Putin granted the 39-year-old citizenship.
That's according to a decree published Monday on the Russian government's website, which lists Snowden's name alongside dozens of others in a list of Russian citizens.
Putin grants Edward Snowden Russian citizenship
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told news outlets that Snowden received Russian citizenship at his own request.
According to Snowden, he applied for a Russian passport in 2020, but at the time said he also wanted to keep his US citizenship.
Russia relaxed its strict citizenship laws a few years ago and now allows dual citizenship.
Snowden now a Russian citizen: his wife wants to follow suit
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.
Edward Snowden is facing legal action in the United States for leaking tens of thousands of documents to the press that revealed the extent of Washington's electronic surveillance.
Snowden fled to Russia in 2013, where he has lived ever since.
Last week in Russia, Putin announced partial mobilization for the fight in Ukraine.
According to his lawyer Kutscherena, Snowden does not fall into the category of citizens who are called up because he has no experience in the Russian army.
(jv/dpa)
