MOSCOW, January 24. /ITAR-TASS/.Kommersant daily reports about further fate of leaker of U.S. security services Edward Snowden. The point at issue is that six months after granting a status of refugee to Snowden in Russia will expire in a few days. This means that the countdown for Snowden will start, as political asylum was granted to him only for a year, the daily noted.
Snowden’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Kommersant daily that he does not rule out that Snowden will apply for extension of refugee status to him in Russia and receiving Russian citizenship in the future. “He will take a decision on the issue soon,” Kucherena assured the daily. In his words, Edward Snowden has the right to extend his status every year until he receives Russian citizenship.
Snowden continues to learn Russia and reads much, he spent his first salary on clothes and foodstuffs. Snowden got allegedly employed in a certain Russian company.”He has little money so far, therefore, I buy some things to him on donations from sponsors from time to time,” Kucherena added. “If Snowden had really worked for the Russian state, he would have lived in other conditions, U.S. congressmen affirm,” he said.
The daily recalled the U.S. Congress Intelligence Committee had noted recently that they had been investigating a theory that Edward Snowden was collaborating with Russian intelligence before arrival in Moscow. Snowden named these accusations of U.S. congressmen absurd in an interview with weekly magazine New Yorker.
Snowden is not going to talk to Russian journalists yet, his lawyer said. “This is a matter of security,” Kucherena added. “Now most important is to ensure his security. Threats are voiced against him, including from incumbent officials of the U.S. National Security Agency,” the lawyer noted. “He takes these statements as a real threat to his life, so, he is prepared to agree to have guard from the law enforcement agencies,” Kucherena said.
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