U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden will be applying for dual US-Russian Citizenship
Edward Snowden tweeted yesterday ‘After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son. That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship’. Snowden’s wife recently released a statement that she was expecting a son.
Edward Snowden was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee and a National Security Agency (NSA) subcontractor.
He is a US whistleblower who has been in the lime light for a long time.
In May 2013 Snowden took a leave of absence telling his superiors he was going for an epilepsy treatment, instead he flew to Hong Kong from Hawaii.
During this course of time, Snowden leaked various information about CIA and NSA regarding their mass surveillance program. As Snowden started releasing more such sensitive information while stationed in Hong Kong the United States got furious and tried getting Snowden extradited.
Edward Snowden revolutionized the way we think about mass surveillance and its existence.
He leaked various information about Five Eyes which is a historic espionage alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Snowden fled to Russia to get asylum in Latin American nations. However, the US government canceled Snowden’s passport and he had to stay in Russia.
Snowden applied for asylum in various countries numerous countries refused and those who accepted backed down later due to pressure by the United States.
Snowden never wished to stay in Russia, however, when nothing turned out he agreed to seek asylum there.
Snowden’s citizenship status changed various times over the years. In late 2014 his status changed from temporary refugee to a temporary resident in Russia.
In October 2020 Snowden was finally granted a permanent residence instead of a renewal of a temporary residence.
And now in 2020 Snowden announced he would be applying for dual US-Russian citizenship.
