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Snowden and NSA leaks

Snowden's fate is his own choice he might make in next few days - civil rights advocate

Asked whether Snowden was going to apply for temporary asylum, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said " I think he will"

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 16 (Itar-Tass) - In the next few days the former NSA agent, Edward Snowden, might make a final decision as to whether he should file an application for asylum in Russia, Chairman of the Russian Public Chamber, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Itar-Tass.

Kucherena has confirmed that Snowden telephoned him on Monday, using the telephone number Kucherena gave Snowden during a meeting with human rights activists in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport when the Russian lawyer promised Snowden consultative support.

"He did telephone me; consultations have been going on now," Kucherena confirmed.

"Snowden does not quite understand our laws, and I explained to him the Law on Refugees, the presidential decree on the order of granting political asylum and a resolution of the Russian government on the order of granting temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation," Kucherena said.

" I think the situation will be settled in the next few days. Snowden will make a decision after all," Kucherena said.

Asked whether Snowden was going to apply for temporary asylum, Kucherena said " I think he will".

"Formalities is not the most important thing at present. Snowden has been actively asking for consultations. No one should impose anything on him; he ought to make the decision himself," Kucherena stressed.

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