Russia gives citizenship to ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Monday granted citizenship to former American intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who fled prosecution after he revealed highly classified U.S.

A decree signed Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin listed Snowden as one of 75 foreign citizens listed as being granted Russian citizenship.

in 2013, Snowden was granted permanent Russian residency in 2020 and said at the time that he planned to apply for Russian citizenship without renouncing his U.S.

Snowden should return to the United States where he should face justice as any other American citizen would.”.

In Russia, almost every man is considered a reservist until age 65, and officials on Monday stressed that men with dual citizenship are also eligible for the military call-up.

He hasn’t commented on being granted Russian citizenship.

intelligence budget and the extent of American surveillance on foreign officials, including the leaders of U.S.-allied countries.

The Justice Department also sued to stop Snowden from collecting profits on his memoir, saying he had violated his nondisclosure agreements with intelligence agencies

The White House on Monday referred comment on Snowden’s citizenship to the Justice Department, citing the pending criminal charges