Jul, 2014 : Snowden Petitions For Extended Asylum In Russia

📅 July 9, 2014 - Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has asked the Russian government to extend his asylum for another year, following his leaks of millions of U.S. top-secret documents revealing U.S. agencies spying tactics.

According to Russian news site RT, Snowden's temporary asylum expires on July 31st, prompting him to petition for an extended stay in the country.

“The procedure is very simple if a citizen of any country would like to stay and live in Russia. In this case we are talking about Snowden, so we have fulfilled the procedure to receive temporary asylum,” said his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena. “We have submitted documents to prolong his stay in Russia.”

When asked if he would be applying for Russian citizenship, Kucherena said it is the Federal Migration Services decision.

Snowden first arrived in Russia last June, after being stranded in Moscow by a connecting flight from Hong Kong to Cuba due to his passport being voided by U.S. authorities.

Russia accepted his request for asylum saying that he had not committed any crimes on Russian soil.

“In addition, Russian law enforcement agencies have received no instructions through Interpol to detain him. So we have no grounds to detain this transit passenger,” according to a Russian official.

In an interview with NBC in May, Snowden said he would come back to the U.S. if granted amnesty or clemency.

“I don't think there's ever been any question that I'd like to go home. Now, whether amnesty or clemency ever becomes a possibility is not for me to say. That's a debate for the public and the government to decide. But, if I could go anywhere in the world, that place would be home.”