Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to whistleblower and former employee of the American NSA Edward Snowden, a refugee in Russia since 2013 after leaving the United States, according to a decree published on Monday.
Edward Snowden’s name appears alongside dozens of others in this decree published on the Russian government’s website.
US authorities have accused Snowden, 39, of leaking tens of thousands of US National Security Agency (NSA) documents to the press proving the extent of Washington’s electronic surveillance.
These revelations had then aroused very strong tensions between the United States and their allies. Russian authorities’ decision to grant him a residence permit had angered Washington.
“After two years of waiting and almost ten years in exile, a little stability will make a difference for my family,” Edward Snowden tweeted.