(Image source from: Parhlo.com)

Russian President Vladimir Putin granted Russian citizenship for the former US Intelligence Contractor Edward Snowden. This happened nine years after he exposed the scale of secret operations by the National Security Agency (NSA). Edward Snowden is 39 years old and he fled from the United States. He was given asylum in Russia after the secret files were leaked in 2013. Vast international and domestic operations were leaked. The authorities of the USA wanted Edward to return back and face a criminal trial on the charges of espionage. Edward Snowden did not react. Now Vladimir Putin granted Russian citizenship for Edward.

Russia also granted permanent residency rights for Snowden in the year 2020 and this paved path for the Russian citizenship. The USA court found the program of Snowden unlawful and the UN intelligence defended it. Vladimir Putin said that Snowden kept a low profile when he lived in Russia and he was not a traitor though he leaked the USA secrets. Edward Snowden is one among the 75 foreign nationals listed by the decree. This is published on the official website of the Russian government. Edward Snowden is a former contractor with the US National Security Agency.