Edward Snowden’s Russian lawyer Analtoly Kucherena says that Russia has given permission for him to stay there for three more years. It is not clear whether he has applied for asylum.
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This must irk the US administration which has been anxious to get its hands on him to punish him for leaking so many documents about its massive spying programs. The noticeable hostility in US-Russian relations right now meant that it was unlikely that they would hand him over to the US. Of course, the emergence of a new leaker means that they also have other things to worry about.
But Snowden seems to be branching out.
Kucherena said Snowden is working in the information-technology field and that holding a job was a key consideration in extending his residency. The lawyer didn’t give details of where Snowden is working. He also said Snowden is under the protection of a private guard service.
Kucherena also was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that he intends to publish a novel that includes elements of the Snowden case. He claimed rights to the book have been sold to American film director Oliver Stone.
The noticeable hostility in US-Russian relations right now meant that it was unlikely that they would hand him over to the US.
Yeah, if I were into conspiracy theories I’d be pushing one that explained how at this point, if the US authorities were to take charge of Snowden they couldn’t just make him disappear or go silent, and since he knows too much it’s better to provoke the Russians into keeping him.
Personally I’d prefer if Brazil or Germany gives Snowden asylum. It could be like a stepping stone back to America.
You probably know that Daniel Ellsberg, completely backs Snowden. He has also backed Chelsea Manning and always called her “Bradley” and used masculine pronouns until just after the the day she announced her preferences. He now uses feminine pronouns except for some times in the past. This is exactly in accord with what manning has requested.
Kucherena also was quoted… as saying that he intends to publish a novel …
Huh. I had thought that Russian surnames ending in “a” signified a woman. (I fear our esteemed host, his source at Huffington Post, and the AP writer they both quote, have put one too many “L”s into this attorney’s first name.) More confusion: is Kucherena or Snowden writing the novel?
He claimed rights to the book have been sold to American film director Oliver Stone.
*Groan* But who else in Hollywood would touch it?