Edward Snowden Reportedly Swore an Oath to Russia in Exchange for a Passport

Edward Snowden, the United States’ most infamous surveillance whistleblower, now holds a Russian passport. In change for the doc, Snowden, thought-about each a patriot and a traitor within the U.S. relying on who you ask, has reportedly sworn an oath of allegiance to the Russian state.

The former NSA contractor’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucheren, reportedly confirmed the change in an interview with Russian state media TASS. The stunning flip of occasions comes round two months after Russian president Vladimir Putin unexpectedly granted Snowden Russian citizenship. Lindsay Mills, Snowden’s spouse who fled with him to Russia following his NSA revelations in 2013, can be at present making use of for Russian citizenship.

“Yes, he received a passport,” Kucheren stated. “He took the oath.”

Individuals who take that oath of allegiance, according to The Washington Post, are required to “protect the freedom and independence of the Russian Federation, to be loyal to Russia, [and] to respect its culture, history and traditions.” Those might sound like main concessions, however Snowden’s lawyer says they’re price it as a result of she believes they need to legally forestall Snowden from being extradited to the United States. Snowden nonetheless faces fees within the U.S. for allegedly violating the Espionage Act.

“He [Snowden] is, of course, happy, thanking the Russian Federation for the fact that he received citizenship,” Kucheren stated in response to The Post. “And most importantly, under the Constitution of Russia, he can no longer be extradited to a foreign state.”

Snowden himself didn’t instantly touch upon the stories.

Nearly 10 years have handed since Snowden blew the lid off the NSA’s huge home and worldwide spying equipment. Those leaks kicked off a world manhunt that led Snowden to hunt asylum in 27 completely different international locations. Eventually, Snowden landed in Russia. Since then, Snowden has labored, normally on the opposite finish of a video name display, as a civil liberties advocate, technologist, and critic of the U.S. nationwide safety businesses. During that point, the whistleblowers’ relationship with the Russian state was tenuous and complex. Though Snowden has spoken critically concerning the Russian state and Putin from time to time, his function as probably one of many U.S’ highest profile fugitives made him a very helpful instrument for Russia.

Snowden has maintained he would return to the U.S. if given the chance to face a good trial. Though Snowden and lots of of his supporters keep his NSA disclosures clearly benefited the general public, the Espionage Act beneath which he’s charged reportedly prevents defendants from arguing their actions had been made within the public curiosity. That authorized useless finish reportedly led Snowden to hunt a presidential pardon, first from Barack Obama after which later from Donald Trump. The latter appeared to sign some curiosity in that concept, telling the New York Post he believed Snowden was, “not being treated fairly.”

Supportive or not, Trump in the end misplaced the presidential race in 2020. Seeing his choices concerning a pardon withering away, Snowden publicly introduced he was making use of for twin U.S./Russian citizenship within the curiosity of sustaining his familial life.

“After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our SONS,” Snowden wrote on Twitter. “After two years of waiting and nearly ten years of exile, a little stability will make a difference for my family.”

Still, the passport and citizenship approval comes throughout one of many bleakest moments in Russia’s current historical past. The nation continues to have interaction in a conflict with Ukraine that has left it remoted from a lot of the worldwide neighborhood. During that point, rights teams have accused Russia of participating in conflict crimes and escalating fears of potential nuclear battle.