Snowden swears allegiance to Russia, receives passport: lawyer

Nationwide Safety Company whistleblower Edward Snowden, who obtained worldwide consideration after leaking categorised details about U.S. authorities surveillance packages, has sworn his allegiance to Russia, the place he has been dwelling in exile since 2013, state media reported Friday. 

Snowden lawyer Anatoly Kucherena confirmed the information to the state-run media outlet TASS, saying his consumer had been granted a Russian passport.

Kucherena stated he had seen Snowden the day past and he was doing nicely. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin granted Snowden citizenship in September; the Russian authorities had given him everlasting residency in 2020. Snowden stated on the time that he would work to keep up twin U.S.-Russian citizenship and never surrender his U.S. passport. 

Kucherena instructed TASS that Snowden’s spouse, Lindsey Mills, is presently making use of for Russian citizenship as nicely.

Russia’s Interfax information company reported that Kucherena stated Snowden is grateful that he’s now a full-fledged citizen. Kucherena stated that Snowden can not be extradited to a overseas state. 

Snowden has been vocally essential about U.S. insurance policies on Twitter however principally quiet about Russia’s broadly denounced invasion of Ukraine this 12 months. He lives in Moscow with Mills and their two youngsters.