Putin Grants Russian Citizenship To US Whistleblower Edward Snowden
Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to former US NSA contractor Edward Snowden on Monday.
Putin signed a decree offering Snowden, along with some 72 other foreign nationals, Russian citizenship.
The Kremlin published the list on their official website, without offering any comment on Snowden’s citizenship. Snowden has not said anything yet either.
The US State Deparment said it was not aware of any change in Snowden’s American citizenship status, according to Ned Price, the Department’s spokesperson.
Price added that Washington’s position on Snowden has not changed. The US has long demanded Snowden to return to the US to face a criminal trial on espionage charges.
Snowden, fled the United States after leaking documents about the US National Security Agency’s (NSA) classified surveillance programs in 2013.
Snowden worked for the NSA, which is the US intelligence agency, from 2009 until 2013.
Reponsible for one of the most significant leaks of US poltiical history, Snowden requested for asylum from Russia in 2013.
He has since been living in Russia, and was granted permanent residency in 2020. At the time, Snowden said he planned to apply for Russian citizenship.
It is not clear whether Snowden has renounced his American citizenship.
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