Putin gave Edward Snowden Russian citizenship: can he now be mobilized and sent to Ukraine

Former employee of the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States Edward Snowden received Russian citizenship. A decree to this effect was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the document was published on the portal of legal information, reports RBC.

Photo: video frame YouTube / The Guardian

Snowden has been living in Russia for nine years. In the US, a former NSA employee faces a prison term on charges of espionage and theft of government property

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Snowden was granted citizenship at his request. Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told the agency that Snowden did not serve in the Russian army, so he does not fall into the category of those drafted as part of the partial mobilization. According to him, in the future, Snowden's wife, also an American, will apply for Russian citizenship.

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Snowden in 2013 revealed the methods of surveillance by American intelligence agencies of citizens and spoke about wiretapping the phones of world leaders. In the United States, he is accused of espionage and theft of government property.

In an interview with American commentator Joe Rogan, Snowden recalled that he was actually heading to Latin America from Hong Kong, but the American authorities canceled his passport, which caused him to be blocked in Russia (he had a transfer there). He spent more than a month in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport, reports RIA News.

“My life is no easier because I am trapped in a country I did not choose,” Snowden said in 2019. He added that it is difficult for him to be in opposition to the authorities of both the United States and Russia at the same time.

In August 2013, he received temporary asylum in Russia, and a year later, a three-year residence permit, which was extended upon completion.

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In October 2020, the American was granted an already indefinite residence permit, and the following month he announced that he had decided to obtain Russian citizenship. Snowden explained this decision by the fact that he does not want to part with his son because they will have different citizenship. At the same time, he noted that he and his wife would raise a child "with all the values ​​of America", including the freedom to express one's opinion.

The couple's son was born in December 2020. The boy received Russian citizenship.

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