Newsman: President Vladimir Putin signed a decree conferring citizenship to 75 foreign nationals including Former National Security Agency contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden. The news was confirmed in a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin posted Monday to the Kremlin’s website.
Edward Snowden,who is a fugitive of American authorities and has been living in Russia since 2013 has been granted Russian citizenship.
The US State Department said should return to the United Statesto face the charges.
Edward Snowden 39, is wanted in the U.S. after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programs. The Kremlin subsequently granted him asylum, even as the U.S. pursued espionage charges. He received permanent Russian residency in 2020. Snowden said at the time that he would retain his American citizenship and hoped one day to return to the U.S., where he was charged in 2013 with violating the Espionage Act. He has denied sharing information with Russian intelligence agents.
In 2020, Snowden announced he and his wife had applied for Russian citizenship as they were expecting their first child during the pandemic.
“Mr. Snowden should return to the United States where he should face justice as any other American citizen would,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.
