The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Snowden can continue to stay in the country. The announcement came one day after Obama commuted fellow whistleblower Chelsea Manning's prison sentence.
Image: Reuters/B. McDermid
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Former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden will not have to leave Russia this year, Russian authorities announced on Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page that Snowden's residence permit has been extended by a "couple of years."
According to Reuters, Snowden's Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Russia's RIA agency that the former NSA employee now has the right to remain until 2020. Kucherena also said the Snowden will qualify for Russian citizenship next year.
"In effect, he now has all grounds to receive citizenship in the future,over the course of a certain period, since under the law we have a period of residence on Russia soil of not less than 5 years (to receive Russian citizenship)," RIA quoted Kucherena as stating.
The announcement marks the second extension of Snowden's residency permit. After Snowden had arrived in Moscow in June 2013, Russia granted him temporary one-year asylum, which was later extended to three years. Snowden has sought asylum from other countries, including Germany, though without success.
In 2013, Snowden leaked classified documents from the NSA to the media, revealing extensive US government global surveillance programs.
Snowden greeted Obama's decision on Twitter with gratitude.
"Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama."
Snowden was not one of the 273 individuals on Obama's list of commutations and pardons.
Oliver Stone reveals Snowden's human side in new film
For filmmaker Oliver Stone, whistleblower Edward Snowden is one of the most significant people of our day. His new film about the IT expert, who is still living in exile in Moscow, painstakingly recounts Snowden's story.
Image: Universum
A differentiated view of Snowden
In his new film "Snowden," Oliver Stone makes a clear effort to remain unbiased. Edward Snowden, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is anything other than a hero with a goal. On the contrary, Stone presents the future whistleblower as an ambitious IT expert who wants to climb the career ladder at the NSA.
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Premiere in Toronto
American director Oliver Stone turned 70 on September 15, a few days after the film's official premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. In the US, "Snowden" opened in cinemas on September 16.
Image: Reuters/F. Thornhill
From the military to intelligence
Early on, Snowden wanted to serve his country as a soldier in Iraq. During his military training, he broke both legs. It was due to this accident that the young man came into contact with the NSA and the CIA, where he quickly got attention for his strong IT talent.
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Snowden, the perfect student
Snowden's boss at the CIA, Corbin O'Brian (played in the film by Welsh actor Rhys Ifans) becomes a big fan of the young man's work. He takes Snowden under his wing.
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Behind the scenes
Gradually, Snowden begins to understand what his work at the intelligence agencies is all about: total surveillance both abroad and at home. Many computer nerds work for the CIA and the NSA. Snowden looks over their shoulders and comes to the realization that privacy has lost its sanctity.
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Thrilling production
Oliver Stone's "Snowden" shows how the whistleblower evolved from being an ambitious worker to a critic of the system. The film is full of exciting moments and dense scenes. Particularly memorable is the scene in which Snowden gathers top-secret data from a CIA building and smuggles it out - in a Rubik's cube.
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Working with the press
Stone shows Snowden's escape from the system as he flees to Asia and begins to collaborate with the journalists to whom he will ultimately release numerous secret documents. Here, Snowden is pictured handing over information to "The Guardian" journalist Ewen MacAskill, played by Tom Wilkinson.
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Snowden's human side
With his rousing political thriller, Oliver Stone manages to offer a very human portrayal of the whistleblower - not least due to the convincing performance of actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is depicted as a young man who has a girlfriend and is caught between working for the good of his society and his own interests.
