Putin grants Russian citizenship to whistleblower Edward Snowden – Le Figaro

Edward Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking tens of thousands of documents to the press proving the extent of Washington’s electronic surveillance President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to the whistleblower and former employee of the American NSA Edward Snowden, a refugee in Russia since 2013 after leaving the United States, according to a decree published Monday, September 26. The name of Edward Snowden appears alongside dozens of others in this decree published on the website of the Russian government. Edward Snowden, 39, is wanted by the United States for having transmitted to the press tens of thousands of documents proving the extent of electronic surveillance carried out by Washington. Read also Edward Snowden: “I believe that European governments have fear of me” These revelations had then aroused very strong tensions between the United States and their allies and the decision of the Russian authorities to grant him a residence permit had angered Washington. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Ria Novosti agency that Russian citizenship had been granted to Edward Snowden at his own request. SEE ALSO – Russian citizenship for Edward Snowden: “Our position has not changed”, reacts the American State Department Will not fight in Ukraine The Russian lawyer of the whistleblower, Anatoli Koutcherena, for his part specified that Edward Snowden would not be concerned by the order of mobilization for the offensive in Ukraine, decreed by Vladimir Putin last week for certain categories of Russians. “He did not serve in the Russian army and therefore, according to our current legislation, he does not fall into this category of citizens who are now called up,” he told the Ria Novosti agency. According to him, Edward Snowden’s companion, Lindsay Mills, has also asked to receive Russian nationality and their daughter already has it, having been born in Russia. American at the request of Washington, the former consultant found himself in Moscow in May 2013 after arriving there from Hong Kong and intending to find refuge in Latin America. He eventually found himself stranded in Russia, where he was granted asylum. The revelations of Edward Snowden had caused very strong tensions between the United States and their allies and the decision of the Russian authorities to grant him a residence permit had angered Washington. In August, US President Donald Trump said he would “look into” a possible pardon for Edward Snowden, who is charged with “espionage” in his country and faces up to 30 years in prison. SEE ALSO – ‘They’ve been waiting for this for years’: The family who gave Edward Snowden shelter find refuge in Canada