Edward Snowden’s name is on a list of dozens of new citizens published by the Kremlin – the corresponding decree is signed by President Vladimir Putin. The 39-year-old received citizenship at his own request, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
In 2013, Snowden passed tens of thousands of documents on NSA spying activities to journalists. A process is therefore threatened in the United States. According to his own statements, he originally wanted to flee via Hong Kong to Ecuador, but ended up stranded at the airport in Moscow after the US government canceled his passport. Russia granted asylum to Snowden and his wife Lindsay Mills.
Responsible for worldwide monitoring and evaluation of electronic communications: NSA headquarters in Fort Meade
A spokesman for the State Department in Washington called on the former NSA employee to return to the United States to face justice there. The spokesman said he was not aware of any change in the status of Snowden’s US citizenship.
And now to the military?
Snowden’s naturalization prompted some Russians to question whether the American-born would be called up for military service as part of the army’s recent partial mobilization. That was denied by a lawyer for Snowden. His client does not fall into the category of citizens who are called up as he has not previously served in the Russian army and has no relevant experience.
wa/fab (dpa, rtr, afp)
