Washington: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden`s `temporary asylum` request is reportedly being processed by the Russian Migration service and he could soon walk freely on the Russian streets after being holed up for nearly three weeks at the Moscow airport.
Snowden`s Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said that giving Snowden a temporary asylum won`t take more than a week and in the near future he will have the possibility to leave the Sheremetyevo transit zone, the Christian Science Monitor reports.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, who considers Snowden an `unwelcome gift` said that the Russian authorities have warned Snowden that any activity of his that could damage US-Russian relations, is unacceptable for them as White House Press Secretary Jay Carney hinted that failure to satisfactorily resolve the Snowden affair might result in `long-term problems` for the bilateral ties.
Putin had earlier said that international relations are more important to Russia than the special service hassles.
According to the report, lawyer Kucherena said that Snowden has agreed to Putin`s conditions of doing no harm to US interests.
Kucherena said that Snowden is an adamant human rights activist, and has refused to go back to US fearing torture and execution.
He further said that political asylum in Russia would provide Snowden with documents enabling him to live in Russia and enjoy many privileges of a Russian citizen, and be renewable annually, the report added.
ANI
