Snowden granted 3-yr residence permit - lawyer

[Balthazar]

http://rt.com/news/178680-snowden-stay-russia-residence/

Snowden granted 3-yr residence permit - lawyer

Edward Snowden has received a residence permit in Russia, which is valid for three years, starting on August 1, the former NSA contractor’s lawyer announced.

“On the first of August he received a three-year residence permit,” lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told reporters.

He added that Snowden had not asked for political asylum.

“He will be able to travel freely within the country and go abroad. He’ll be able to stay abroad for not longer than three months,” Kucherena said.

The former NSA contractor will be able to apply for the Russian citizenship in five years.

“A foreign citizen, who got a residence permit, will certainly be able to apply for citizenship,” Kucherena said.

Edward Snowden has not yet made up his mind whether he wants Russian citizenship.

“By all means he is homesick," his lawyer said. "It was hard for him to find himself far from home, especially for the first time. Of course, in the future Edward will make up his mind on whether to stay in Russia and apply for citizenship or to leave for the US. He hasn’t done this yet.”

Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia a year ago. It expired July 31.

He left the US and went to Hong Kong in May 2013, from where he leaked confidential files to mass media concerning the NSA’s overwhelming surveillance.

Snowden then planned to seek refuge in Cuba, but found himself stranded at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, after his American passport was annulled by US authorities.

Kucherena dismissed a letter from the US Prosecutor General’s office to the Russian Ministry of Justice as insufficient grounds for handing Snowden over to the US.

“There has been no request which complies with international law,” the lawyer said.

If Edward Snowden does one day travel back to the US, it’s not going to be extradition, his lawyer assured.

“No extradition is possible under Russian law,” he said. “He has not committed any crime. He faces no charges in Russia.”

Snowden’s security in Russia is being ensured by a private firm, Kucherena said.

“He’s without state protection and he can’t possibly have it. To arrange state protection you have to go through many bureaucratic procedures.”

[chopstick]

Hell yeah, my nigga Snowden.  Hope he continues to be protected from a jail cell in the USA.

[bryant.coleman]

IMO, Snowden might be feeling happy about it. But if I am not wrong, he originally planned to go to Ecuador and seek asylum there. Not a viable plan right now, it seems at this point of time.

[tooil]

How much is he getting pay by the Russia each year?

[michaelwang33]

IMO, Snowden might be feeling happy about it. But if I am not wrong, he originally planned to go to Ecuador and seek asylum there. Not a viable plan right now, it seems at this point of time.

He can probably eventually make it there. He is likely living off bitcoin donations now, he lawyer is probably working for free.

The long term residency will also likely allow him to leave Russia without the plane carrying him being stopped in international airspace as he can leave somewhat in the middle of his residency. He would probably also not make it public that he has left Russia.

[RCHumphrey]

Yep to clarify he can travel internationally with his new visa so its likely he will head to Central or Southern America

[Balthazar]

Move to Crimea would be very funny, it will be a perfect opportunity to troll everybody in the world. But I would prefer don't do anything, there are not so much sovereign countries.

[medUSA]

A former NSA contractor is an extremely valuable resource for Russia. If Snowden wants to stay, Russia will not kick him out. I don't understand why Snowden wants to go to Cuba?

[bryant.coleman]

Yep to clarify he can travel internationally with his new visa so its likely he will head to Central or Southern America

I don't think that is possible. If he boards on an aircraft which takes him to Ecuador from Russia, the CIA will interrupt the flight mid-way, and then escort Snowden to the US. It has happened before.

[iopq]

I'm glad when something puts pressure on any government to stay honest. It's a matter of politics at this point between countries and you'd better be damned sure that Russia's not just going to let this slip through their fingers. It's a smart move on their part, free positive exposure while the U.S. tarnishes itself a bit in the eyes of many. Plus, Russia has set it up in such a way that they have the freedom to change their minds if they wish (say, within the next 3 years).

They may also be able to get some concessions or use Snowden as a bargaining chip with the U.S. down the road or it may prove useful just to keep him around. Maybe they just don't care all that much and get the benefit of a tiny publicity boost with the outside world by looking like they're more "free" than the U.S; in whatever way you slice it they get something out of it for cheap coin. When the country with the most powerful military in the world has a phrase like "We always get our man" doesn't get their man, it carries a statement that Russia wants to promulgate.

[Balthazar]

Plus, Russia has set it up in such a way that they have the freedom to change their minds if they wish (say, within the next 3 years).

Lawyer said that Snowden will be able to apply a citizenship if his residence permit will be expired or cancelled for some reason.

But it seems strange because it's required to live 3 years in Russian Federation before getting citizenship... Maybe he's married and had a children there? 

[bitsmichel]

Yep to clarify he can travel internationally with his new visa so its likely he will head to Central or Southern America

I don't think that is possible. If he boards on an aircraft which takes him to Ecuador from Russia, the CIA will interrupt the flight mid-way, and then escort Snowden to the US. It has happened before.

The CIA would do this again, they are playing dirty games for corporations - they may even blow up the entire airplane. The more attention they put to it the more they make a clown of themselves. The whole world knows they are doing dirty games and abusing the privacy of our entire nation.

IMO, Snowden might be feeling happy about it. But if I am not wrong, he originally planned to go to Ecuador and seek asylum there. Not a viable plan right now, it seems at this point of time.

Russia can be a good place to live. The secret service hoped that he would fly to Ecuador in order to kill him. He simply was more smart than the people at the NSA/CIA  

[wasserman99]

Plus, Russia has set it up in such a way that they have the freedom to change their minds if they wish (say, within the next 3 years).

Lawyer said that Snowden will be able to apply a citizenship if his residence permit will be expired or cancelled for some reason.

But it seems strange because it's required to live 3 years in Russian Federation before getting citizenship... Maybe he's married and had a children there? 

I would seriously doubt that he wishes to get Russian citizenship. I think his long term plan is to move to a smaller country when it is safe to do so. The 3 year "green card" will allow him to have a larger window to try to move to south america without being noticed.

[Mobius]

Plus, Russia has set it up in such a way that they have the freedom to change their minds if they wish (say, within the next 3 years).

Lawyer said that Snowden will be able to apply a citizenship if his residence permit will be expired or cancelled for some reason.

But it seems strange because it's required to live 3 years in Russian Federation before getting citizenship... Maybe he's married and had a children there? 

He won't apply for citizenship. He will almost certainly leave Russia between 9 months and 2 years and 3 months from now (assuming he is still there). Russia is almost certainly not safe for him over the long term.