Putin gives Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden

The Russian president has made that decision nine years after Snowden has made public the way the National Security Agency performs surveillance (NSA) in the United States.

Snowden, 39-year-old, has left the United States and acquired asylum in Russia.

In 2013, he had spoken publicly about internal and international operations of the American agency at once.

American authorities have been seeking his return to the United States for years, where he faces charges of spying.

Snowden has not reacted yet, as the Kremlin has published the list of 72 individuals Putin has granted citizenship to.

In 2020, Russia has given Snowden permanent residence permission, paving the way for citizenship applications.

Putin, former spy chief in Russia, said in 2017 that Snowden was wrong when he published American secrets, but he's not a traitor.

Snowden himself doesn't appear much in front of the media since he started living in Russia.