CNN: National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden’s application for political asylum has been approved, and he has left a Moscow airport, Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told CNN on Thursday.
Snowden has legal status in Russia for one year, Kucherena said, but the attorney would not disclose his location, citing security reasons…
The Russian government “has been signaling … for some time” that it planned to grant Snowden temporary asylum, a U.S. official told CNN, saying, “I don’t think it’s a shock.” While the Russians have signaled their intentions publicly, the U.S. also learned of the country’s plans in private conversations between senior U.S. and Russian officials over the last several weeks, the official added… (more)
