Putin Gives Russian Citizenship to US Fugitive Edward Snowden;

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Monday granting citizenship to former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden has been living in Russia since 2013 when he fled the US after leaking classified documents revealing government surveillance programs.

President Vladimir Putin reportedly granted citizenship to Edward Snowden because the former National Security Agency contractor disclosed a top-secret spying program and has been living in Russia since fleeing the United States nine years ago.

  Edward Snowden has made public a trove of classified documents showing how the US and British governments have been monitoring the communications of many citizens unsuspected of crimes The papers have revealed how the NSA has been trying to tap into major computer networks including Google

The Kremlin granted Snowden temporary asylum in 2013, leading to a diplomatic standoff with President Barack Obama's administration.

  The whistle-blower was granted permanent residency in 2020, and Snowden tweeted at the time that he now intends to return to the US. She said this to give her motivation to seek dual citizenship for her child.

  Putin, who demonstrated his will and power by annexing Ukraine in February 2022 and also faced recent setbacks on the battlefield, last week ordered the mobilization of 300,000 troops. The decision sparked scattered protests across the country amid fears that the government would close the border to elderly men who were drafted.