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Snowden and NSA leaks

Snowden not rule out applying for Russian citizenship

Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said Snowden, who applied for granting temporary asylum, was not planning to leave Russia

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) - Former CIA technical contractor Edward Snowden does not rule out a possibility of applying for Russian citizenship, Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

Kucherena said Snowden, who applied for granting temporary asylum, was not planning to leave Russia.

Snowden does not rule out that he “will ask for Russian citizenship in the future”, the lawyer said.

At the same time, Kucherena said the former CIA technical contractor did not rule out that he would leave Russia. “He’d like to meet the leaders of the countries that are ready to accept them. But now he is not going to leave Russia,” the Russian lawyer added.

In his words, Snowden can leave the transit zone within the week after the Federal Migration Service (FMS) gives a certificate to consider his statement to grant temporary asylum in Russia. “This certificate will help Snowden move along Russia,” the lawyer said.

Kucherena said he explained to Snowden the different nuances of Russian legislation. “He [Snowden] took a decision on temporary asylum for a year although he could ask for political asylum for five years,” the lawyer said.

Kucherena said Snowden knew about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request not to cause damage to the United States. “He said such wish could be complied with,” Kucherena said.

Snowden has not given any writing obligations in this aspect, the lawyer said.

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