Former US intelligence contractor and fugitive Edward Snowden has submitted a formal request for temporary asylum in Russia, where he has been since June 23.
“He [Snowden] is being persecuted by the US government – that’s what he wrote, I’m quoting him – and therefore he fears for his life, for his safety. He is scared that he will be tortured or executed,” said Anatoly Kucherena, a prominent lawyer and Public Chamber member. Kucherena witnessed Snowden submitting his appeal to a representative of the Federal Migration Service on Tuesday, reports RIA Novosti.
Kucherena said Snowden chose to finally apply for temporary asylum because he was tired from living in the transit zone of the Sheremyetevo airport. If his request for asylum is approved, he will have refugee status for a year and be allowed to move freely within Russia.
Putin will not be the one to approve or deny Snowden’s request, though he has spoken frequently on the topic, according to the Irish Times.
“If we are talking about temporary asylum, then this is an issue not for the president but for the Federal Migration Service,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Putin.
Putin recently said he would like Snowden to leave Russia, in order to not damage relations with the U.S. government, and that he would do so at the earliest opportunity. He pointed out that the U.S. trapped Snowden in Russia by revoking his passport before he could fly to another location.
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