MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - Former employee of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), Edward Snowden, can himself tell whether his temporary asylum in Russia has been extended, the Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) will not comment on this matter, FMS chief Konstantin Romodanovsky said.
"We said many times that this information is confidential," he told journalists in Moscow on Monday.
Snowden could have his temporary asylum in Russia extended as early as this week, the head of the FMS public council, Vladimir Volokh, told Interfax earlier.
Last Wednesday, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said Snowden had asked the FMS's Moscow regional office to extend his stay in Russia.
"I see no problem in extending the temporary asylum. The circumstances have not changed. Snowden's life is still in danger, so the FMS has every reason to extend his status," Volokh said.
"This is done quickly. A document is submitted, it can be considered within a week," said Volokh, a former FMS deputy chief.
Earlier the FMS declined to comment on the prospects for extending Snowden's temporary asylum in Russia. "We do not comment on this," an FMS spokesperson told Interfax this week.
On June 3 the FMS chief, Konstantin Romodanovsky, said the question of whether Snowden's temporary asylum could be extended will be considered by the regional FMS office. "The matter of Edward Snowden is for the regional FMS office. This is not a matter for the FMS chief. It will be as my subordinates decide in accordance with the law. You will get the necessary information in due course," the FMS chief said.
The certificate of temporary asylum in Russia was issued to Snowden on July 31, 2013, and is valid until July 31, 2014. According to the FMS website, temporary asylum is granted for one year and can be extended for 12 months annually.
On June 23 Kucherena said Snowden was gathering documents to remain in Russia. The lawyer could not say whether Snowden will be applying for asylum or residence permit.