Whistleblower Snowden can apply for Russian passport next year: RIA cites lawyer
MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been allowed to remain in Russia for another three years and will next year qualify to apply for Russian citizenship, his Russian lawyer was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
Russian authorities said earlier on Wednesday they had extended a residency permit for Snowden, who was given asylum in Russia after leaking classified information about U.S. spy operations.
That permit is now valid until 2020, the lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, was quoted as saying by Russia's RIA news agency.
"In effect, he now has all grounds to receive citizenship in the future, over the course of a certain period, since under the law we have a period of residence on Russia soil of not less than 5 years (to receive Russian citizenship)," the agency quoted Kucherena as saying.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/whistleblower-snowden-can-apply-for-russian-passport-next-year-ria-cites-lawyer/ar-AAlYqnB?ocid=edgsp
