Moscow:The residence permit of Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified documents on US surveillance programmes in 2013 and has been living in Russia, was automatically extended until July 15 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the country's measures to curb the infection, a law enforcement source said.
Snowden's residence permit expired on April 30. He submitted all documents for its extension in mid-March. In late March, the Russian Interior Ministry decided to automatically extend residence permits for all holders.
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"Due to anti-coronavirus measures, Snowden, just like all other residence permit holders, had this document automatically extended until June 15. Therefore, his residence permit remains valid. Later, a decision will be made about whether it should be extended by three more years upon Snowden's request and in line with the current legislation," the source told.
Meanwhile, Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told that his client stays in-home and observes the self-isolation regime. "There is nothing we can say as long as self-isolation remains in place. We are all staying home," he said.
In 2013, Snowden leaked information on the methods of electronic surveillance by US intelligence services, including illegally wiretapping foreign leaders.