MOSCOW: The US whistleblower Edward Snowden has officially applied for political asylum in Russia, a Russian human rights lawyer revealed on Tuesday.
“Snowden has handed over his application to Sheremetyevo’s Federal Migration Service staff”, Russian human rights lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said.
Earlier Kucherena said that Snowden called him up for legal advice regarding his asylum application.
“Snowden asked me questions about the current Russian legislation. I explained everything to him. I think he will make a decision just today or tomorrow,” Kucherena said.
“I told him about Russian refugee law, the presidential decree on granting political asylum, and the government decree on temporary asylum,” he added.
A source from Russian law enforcement told RIA Novosti that Snowden may be given special permission to enter Moscow and move freely around the country while Russia considers his application for political asylum.
