Edward Snowden granted another three years of residency by Russia

US whistleblower and fugitive Edward Snowden has been given an extra three years of residency in Russia, according to his lawyer Anatoly Kurcherena.

 

On 31 May last year, Snowden fled from the US after leaking information about the surveillance and phone-tapping activities of the National Security Agency, of which he was an employee at the time. 

 

First he went to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was granted asylum by President Vladimir Putin.

 

Russia's stance on Snowden has been widely criticised by US authorities, who accuse him of damaging national interests and harming the country's security. 

 

The US has charged him with theft of government property and communicating classified information.

 

His original, year-long permit expired on 31 July. The new one will allow him to travel abroad freely for the next three years, so that he is not confined to Russia.

 

"The decision on the application has been taken and therefore, with effect from Aug. 1, 2014, Edward Snowden has received a three-year residential permit," Kucherena said. 

 

"In the future, Edward himself will take a decision on whether to stay on (in Russia) and get Russian citizenship or leave for the United States."