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Moscow (AP) - The US whistleblower Edward Snowden has become a father.
His wife Lindsay published a photo of the two on social networks with a baby in red clothes in her arms, but whose face was made unrecognizable with a large smiley face.
She wrote "Merry Christmas, baby".
Edward Snowden commented on the birth of his son on Twitter with the words: "The greatest gift is the love we share".
His lawyer told the Russian news agency Interfax on Saturday that the mother and son were in excellent health.
The child automatically receives Russian citizenship.
Russia grants asylum to Snowden and his wife.
In 2013, the 37-year-old gave documents to journalists about spying activities by the US interception service NSA and its British counterpart GCHQ.
While fleeing via Hong Kong, he said he wanted to go to Ecuador, but was stranded at the airport in Moscow after the US government canceled his passport.
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Snowden and his wife are now applying for Russian citizenship.
They didn't want to risk being separated from their son, the US whistleblower said in the fall.
They did not want to give up their American citizenship.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201226-99-816181 / 2
Snowden on Twitter