Edward Snowden decided to obtain Russian citizenship

Former US intelligence officer Edward Snowden decided to apply for dual US-Russian citizenship.

“After many years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have not the slightest desire to be separated from our son. That is why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we are applying (application. – Ed.) For dual US-Russian citizenship,” – he wrote on Twitter.

At the same time, Snowden noted that he and his wife would remain Americans and would raise their son in the spirit of American values, in particular, freedom to express their opinion. He added that he is looking forward to the day he can return to the United States to reunite with his family.

Earlier, the lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, representing the interests of the American in Russia, said that at the end of December, Snowden and his wife should have a child, at the place of birth he will receive Russian citizenship. Today the lawyer confirmed to RIA Novosti that his ward is collecting the documents necessary for the new status.

Snowden in June 2013 gave the Washington Post and The Guardian a number of classified materials about the surveillance programs of the US and UK intelligence services on the Internet. After that, he flew to Hong Kong, and from there to Moscow, where for some time he was in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport.
Russia provided Snowden with temporary asylum for a year on the condition that he cease his activities against the United States. In August 2014, he received a three-year residence permit, which allows him to travel not only in Russia, but also abroad. In January 2017, the residence permit was extended until 2020. In October, Kucherena announced that Snowden had received an indefinite document.

Snowden’s girlfriend Lindsay Mills moved to Russia to live with him, and they secretly got married here.