Putin grants Edward Snowden Russian citizenship

Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Edward Snowden, former NSA contractor, Russian citizenship. Snowden is accused of espionage and theft of US government property in the US, because he leaked troves of information on American Intelligence and mass surveillance programs on the media in the US. Edward Snowden faces up to 30 years in prison in the United States. is 39 year old and lives in Moscow, in exile. In 2020 Snowden and his wife had applied for Russian citizenship. After applying for citizenship, Snowden said: "Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of the America we love -- including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited."