Russia grants citizenship to Edward Snowden
Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to former US security contractor Edward Snowden on Monday. Putin signed the decree offering Snowden and some 72 other foreign nationals, Russian citizenship.
Snowden has not said anything yet either.  The US State Department 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, 39, fled the United States after leaking documents about the US National Security Agency’s (NSA) classified surveillance programs in 2013. Prior, he worked for the NSA, which is the US intelligence agency, from 2009 until 2013. Snowden requested for asylum from Russia in 2013.
He has since been living in Russia, and was granted permanent residency in 2020.
In 2019, Snowden said he would be willing to return to the US if he’s guaranteed a fair trial.
DW
