Edward Snowden has lived in Russia for nearly a decade, and on Monday was declared a citizen.
Former National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden was granted Russian citizenship Monday via a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Snowden, 39, sought refuge in Russia after exposing United States government secrets in 2013 regarding domestic and international surveillance operations executed by his agency. In August 2014, he received a three-year residence permit, allowing travel abroad. He was given asylum in Russia in 2020, which granted him permanency residency.
Putin’s decree came less than one week after he ordered the mobilization of approximately 300,000 men to fight in the war against Ukraine. Snowden’s attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Snowden would not be enlisted to fight due to not previously serving in the Russian army.
