Putin grants Russian citizenship to former NSA contractor turned whistleblower Edward Snowden

WASHINGTON — Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship connected Monday to erstwhile U.S. quality contractor Edward Snowden, according to a decree translated by NBC News.

Snowden's sanction appears arsenic 1 of astir 70 overseas nationals approved by Putin for Russian citizenship.

The erstwhile NSA quality serviceman turned U.S. authorities whistleblower, fled to Hong Kong and aboriginal to Russia successful to evade national prosecution aft leaking classified documents to journalists. He was granted asylum successful Russia successful 2013 and aboriginal imperishable residency. Snowden, 39, has remained successful Russia ever since.

The consequent quality reports from much than 7,000 classified documents revealed the interior workings of a colossal U.S. authorities surveillance operation. Intelligence officials person previously said that Snowden whitethorn person taken 1.7 cardinal classified files.

Stories published successful The Guardian and The Washington Post exposed a immense government-run spy programme that monitored communications of criminals, imaginable terrorists and law-abiding citizens alike. Other accounts documented however Washington besides secretly monitored immoderate of America's closest allies, similar then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Snowden was charged with theft of U.S. authorities property, unauthorized connection of nationalist defence accusation and willful connection of classified communications intelligence. The charges transportation a situation condemnation of up to 30 years.

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