According to Reuters, NSA leaker Edward Snowden has finally been granted travel papers that would let him leave the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, where he has spent the last few weeks working to find his way to one of several nation’s that has granted him asylum. Exactly where Snowden is heading now is still up in the air, but sources have indicated to Russian news site RT that Snowden is getting a fresh set of clothes and preparing to leave the airport shortly.
Snowden is still very much a wanted man in the eyes of the U.S. government, which has applied pressure to international allies in an effort to leave the former intelligence agency contractor with no easy exits from the Moscow airport he has called home since fleeing Hong Kong in June.
As of this morning, though, Snowden is now free to leave the airport after receiving travel documents that allow him to enter Russia from lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, an indication that Snowden’s request for asylum in Russia has been granted — albeit probably temporarily.
As to what Snowden’s long-term plan is, that’s hard to say. Considering how cagey he’s been so far, it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly start dropping a lot of hints to the press now. Sources indicate, though, that without a clear means of egress to South America, Snowden is likely to stay in Russia for the immediate future. For today, at least, we’re willing to bet he’s just enjoying the fresh air.
- Oh, please, please, please shut up, Donald Trump
- It’s been a long, strange trip for Snowden and it’s not nearly over
- Russia has said they will have Snowden, as long as his security leaks stop
