Ed Snowden doesn’t need to worry about being turfed out of Russia any more
- Reference: 1603434845
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/10/23/edward_snowden_russian_permanent_residency/
- Source link:
State-owned newswire TASS on Thursday [1]reported that Snowden’s lawyer, a chap named Anatoly Kucherena, dropped in to tell it that Snowden has been granted an “open-ended residence permit”.
Snowden was granted a three-year residency permit in 2014, then offered a three-year extension.
That permit was due to expire in April 2020, but Russian immigration bureaucracy was slowed by local lockdowns so Snowden’s status was assured until June.
Kucherena said he applied for an extension as soon as possible and that request was granted.
Snowden’s open-ended stay appears to have been made possible by 2019 reforms to Russian immigration rules that make it easier for highly-skilled workers to adopt the nation as their home. While permanent residence offers a pathway to citizenship, Kucherena said Snowden has no interest in acquiring a Russian passport at this time.
When Snowden first arrived in Russia he reportedly got a job doing tech support. Since 2016 he has served on the board of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. He later wrote a book, [2]Permanent Record , describing his life as a leaker.
But in October 2020 a US court [3]recently ruled that Uncle Sam can scoop up cash he made from the book and by delivering speeches.
Just how Snowden will keep the heat on in the many Russian winters that stretch ahead of him is therefore hard to say. ®
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[1] https://tass.com/society/1215133
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2019/08/02/edward_snowden_autobiography_permanent_record/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/02/us_govt_snowden_court_royalties_win/
[4] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: If he needs a place to stay...
Only 30 years? I was under the impression that Uncle Sam was thinking along the lines of 300.
Life in Russia
What's he done to deserve that?
Re: Life in Russia
With obvious caveats on other aspects, Russia has some stunning landscape and winter sports including climbing and skiing are great - if that is your thing. As someone who lives in Scotland and will be transplanting myself up from my Borders base to the far North in the next two weeks just for that, I can appreciate some of the benefits. Remote working can be wonderful.
Re: Life in Russia
You've just made me have a "bathroom thought", what the hell did the Gypsy traveller community do in the initial lockdown?
Technically speaking, their homes are on wheels and mobile, so as long as they stayed home, could they still travel round.
Re: Life in Russia
Here is a crazy idea....now hold onto this...it may just blow you mind after a century of propaganda...ready....
Most Russians are just like us.
I know, crazy. Totally wacko fringe idea, but it may just catch on.
He's settling in and looking forward to having Donald Trump and Rudy "Adjusting my shirt" Guiliani as neighbours when they have to run from the feds in a couple of months.
I just finished his book. Snowden is a hero and sacrificed so much on principle. It is hard to disagree that governments should not hold
ALL data on all citizens in case they become of interest. History will treat him well.
I would guess that Russia is no better in this respect.
The vast majority of Russian homes are on municipal heating systems, my mother in law's humble apartment in winter with outside temperatures of -20° or worse is usually too warm for me at around 28°C.
Achy Breaky Hearts
This will break the hearts of many Democrats and the Yank Mass Media. They were longing for the day when he, like Julian Assange, and Donald Trump, and Dread Vlad himself, and everyone else who thwarted their plans, are all transported to the bowels of the American Gulag with gyves on their wrists in orange jumpsuits forever, and the keys swallowed by a person nominated by the DNC. Since the entire world is subject to America's Law.
If he needs a place to stay...
If he needs a place to stay during those cold Russian winters, I'm sure the U.S. Government will be happy to give him room and board, and three square meals a day for the next 30 years.