Edward Snowden wants to obtain Russian citizenship.
The former US intelligence consultant and whistleblower, wanted by Washington, announced Monday, November 2, that he had applied for Russian citizenship, after having just obtained a permanent resident title in Russia, the country in which he is a refugee since 2013.
The 37-year-old explained on Twitter that he asked to keep his US citizenship, which is now possible since a recent change in Russian citizenship and immigration law.
The request comes a few days after her partner, Lindsay Mills, announced she was pregnant.
“After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no intention of being separated from our son,” he explained on Twitter.
After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son.
That's why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we're applying for dual US-Russian citizenship.
https://t.co/cCgT0rr37e
- Edward Snowden (@Snowden) November 1, 2020
"Stay Americans"
Snowden also explained that he and his wife wanted to "stay American" and raise their son in accordance with "all the American values we love, including free speech."
The lawyer for the former employee of the US National Security Agency (NSA), Anatoli Koutcherena, explained on October 22 that his residence permit had been extended for an indefinite period and clarified that this had been made possible thanks to recent changes in Russian immigration law.
To read: The French Constitution to the rescue of Edward Snowden?
Edward Snowden had previously benefited from a first asylum right of one year, then a three-year residence permit, extended in 2017.
The former consultant had left the United States after transmitting to the press tens of thousands of documents proving the extent of the activities of the NSA, and demonstrating the extent of electronic surveillance exercised by Washington.
Tensions in the United States
These revelations had then created very strong tensions between the United States and its allies and the decision of the Russian authorities to grant him a residence permit had angered Washington.
In August, US President Donald Trump said he was going to "take a look" at a possible pardon from Edward Snowden, accused of "espionage" in his country and who faces up to 30 years in prison.
Edward Snowden, deprived of his American passport at Washington's request, ended up in Moscow in May 2013 after arriving there from Hong Kong and intending to seek refuge in Latin America.
He eventually found himself stranded in Russia, where he was granted asylum.
With AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR