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According to reports, Russia has granted permanent residency to US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Snowden, the former US security contractor who divulged in 2013 that the US government was spying on its citizens, has been living in exile in Russia for almost eight years.
However, he has said that he would like to return to the United States.
On Thursday, his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said that his residency permit was prolonged and is now indefinite, a situation made possible by fresh changes to Russia’s immigration law.
The lawyer said the application was filed in April but the process was delayed by COVID-19.
The 37-year-old is wanted in the US on espionage charges after he leaked information showing that agents from the National Security Agency (NSA) were gathering telephone records of millions of US citizens.
When asked whether Snowden planned to apply for Russian citizenship, Kucherena said: “He will make the decision himself.”
The lawyer said it was “natural” that Snowden sought to return to the United States but will only do so when the case against him is shut.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump said he would “take a look” at forgiving Snowden but has not made further remark on the issue.
