Russia extends Snowden's residence permit till 2020

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russia extended former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s residence permit until 2020, his Russian lawyer said on Wednesday.

The lawyer, Anatoliy Kucherena, confirmed to journalists that the residence permit of Snowden were extended for further three years. Snowden will be granted citizenship legally as well after living in Russia for five years.

Snowden, who leaked thousands of documents detailing a long-term surveillance program by the U.S. government, was granted asylum by Russia in 2013 following the U.S charged him with espionage.

This announcement came one day after U.S. President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentence of ex army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning convicted of leaking American military and diplomatic activities.