MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - Former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has been granted a residence permit in Russia for three years, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said.
"Starting August 1, 2014, Edward Snowden has received a residence permit for three years," Kucherena said at a press conference at the Interfax main office on Thursday.
Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia in August 2013, which expired on July 31, 2014.
"We filed documents with the Russian Federal Migration Service beforehand so that the extension of Edward Snowden's stay on Russian territory be considered. A decision on the application has been made," Kucherena said.
"Why for three and not for five years? We have learned this as well. As a rule, the Federal Migration Service grants three-year residence permit to individuals who have citizenship of a different country and five-year residence permit to those who have no citizenship," Kucherena said.