MOSCOW, October 10 (Itar-Tass) - Lon Snowden, father of former CIA employee Edward Snowden, has arrived in Russia earlier today for a meeting with his son. They may see each other later today, said Snowden Jr.’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena.
He said Lon Snowden was happy at the opportunity to visit Moscow and see his son at last. Kucherena added Snowden Sr. “will spend some time in Moscow and do some sightseeing as this is the first time he is in Moscow.”
In an interview to the Rossiya 24 round-the-clock TV news channel Lon Snowden said he was unaware of his son's whereabouts yet.
Kucherena said Edward Snowden’s safety was number one priority at the moment.
"We meet whenever the need arises, when he asks me, when he has some questions," Kucherena said. He recalled that when Lon Snowden and he were on the way to Moscow from Sheremetyevo airport, five unknown cars followed them.
"We did not know who was in those cars. All this is very alarming," Kucherena said.
Certain risks for Edward Snowden remain.
"He leads a secluded life, because he is persecuted by the US government. The risks are still there," Kucherena believes.
Snowden Sr. described his son as a talented and educated man and expressed hope he would settle in Russia. He added he was happy his son had been granted a temporary asylum and thanked President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people.
Kucherena said Snowden Jr. had received many employment offers and voiced confidence he would find a job and a well-paid one. Snowden is still undecided regarding his future occupation and is considering either IT or human rights activities.
Edward Snowden is now studying Russian and has made certain progress. Kucherena reiterated he had brought Snowden books by some Russian literature classics, like Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and noted his willingness to read and learn.
He added Russia had received no official requests for extradition.
Edward Snowden, 30, who is charged with leaking secret data about the US National Security Agency’s (NSA) global surveillance programme, was granted a temporary asylum in Russia after over a month in Sheremetyevo airport’s transit limbo.
Edward Snowden is not negotiating asylum with other countries, Snowden’s lawyer stated earlier on Thursday.
“No negotiations are conducted with other countries. He received temporary asylum in the Russian Federation for a period of one year, and he lives in Russia,” Kucherena said on the Rossiya 24 news TV channel.
Kucherena said that the temporary asylum period for Snowden in the Russian Federation could be extended. “If he leaves Russia, then he loses his asylum here,” said the lawyer.
