Edward Snowden becomes a Russian citizen. Will he be called to fight Ukraine?

President Vladimir Putin has granted

to former US security contractor Edward Snowden.

According to news agencies, a decree to this effect was signed on Monday by the Russian leader.

Snowden is one of 75 foreign citizens named by the decree, published on an official government website, who have been granted Federation citizenship. 

Snowden, a computer scientist with a contract to the

, has lived in Russia since 2013, after a troubled escape from his native country.

At the time, after stealing and disclosing confidential documents detailing government surveillance programs through the NSA, he fled to Hong Kong and from there to Moscow. 

He was granted permanent residence in Russia in 2020. At the time, he said he wanted to apply for Russian citizenship, but did not give up his US citizenship. 

Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti that his wife, Lindsay Mills, an American who joined him in Russia, will also apply for a Russian passport.

The couple has a son, born in December 2020. According to Russian observers, given his intelligence / warfare skills, Snowden would be among the people subject to the

and mobilization to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Snowden, who has tried to keep a low profile in Russia and only occasionally criticized the Russian government's policy on social media, said in 2019 that he was willing to return to the United States if he was granted a fair trial. 

AP Photo, File

Edward Snowden - archival image

The United States Department of Justice accuses Snowden of

and revoked his passport.

A controversial character, Snowden has been called a traitor, a hero, an informer, a dissident, a coward and a patriot.

For US officials, however, his actions have done "serious damage" to US intelligence. 

Russia had granted Snowden the right to asylum with an annual residence visa, which was extended several times.

In October 2020 he was granted permanent residence in the country.

Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden was granted at the request of the former NSA, Kremlin spokesman

told reporters .

To a specific question, Peskov replied: "Of course", reports Ria Novosti.