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| Fugitive Edward Snowden applies for asylum in Russia | Fugitive Edward Snowden applies for asylum in Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia, officials say. | Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia, officials say. |
| The Federal Migration Service confirmed he had completed the relevant paperwork at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been for the past three weeks. | The Federal Migration Service confirmed he had completed the relevant paperwork at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where he has been for the past three weeks. |
| Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking details of government surveillance programmes. | Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking details of government surveillance programmes. |
| He has no travel documents so has been unable to take up asylum offers from a number of Latin American states. | He has no travel documents so has been unable to take up asylum offers from a number of Latin American states. |
| "He reached the conclusion that he needs to write an application for temporary asylum, and this procedure has just been done," said Anatoly Kucherena, a lawyer with strong links with the Kremlin who helped Mr Snowden with the paperwork. | "He reached the conclusion that he needs to write an application for temporary asylum, and this procedure has just been done," said Anatoly Kucherena, a lawyer with strong links with the Kremlin who helped Mr Snowden with the paperwork. |
| "For now he is not going to go anywhere. For now he plans to stay in Russia," he said. | "For now he is not going to go anywhere. For now he plans to stay in Russia," he said. |
| Mr Kucherena said the fugitive had stated in the application that he faced possible torture and execution if he returned to the US. | Mr Kucherena said the fugitive had stated in the application that he faced possible torture and execution if he returned to the US. |
| If his application is accepted, he will be free to work and move freely in Russia, said the lawyer. | If his application is accepted, he will be free to work and move freely in Russia, said the lawyer. |
| Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a migration service official as saying that such an application had to be considered within three months. | |
| Officials said Mr Snowden might be moved to a facility in the airport for accommodating refugees while his application was processed. | |
| 'Not Putin's decision' | |
| Mr Snowden arrived in Russia on 23 June, having left Hong Kong, from where he had issued his leaks to the media. | Mr Snowden arrived in Russia on 23 June, having left Hong Kong, from where he had issued his leaks to the media. |
| He held a news conference at the airport on 12 July, where he said he was seeking asylum in Russia. | He held a news conference at the airport on 12 July, where he said he was seeking asylum in Russia. |
| He has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request. However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in. | He has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request. However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in. |
| But he is unable to leave the transit zone as he currently has no asylum documents or Russian visa, and the US has revoked his passport. | But he is unable to leave the transit zone as he currently has no asylum documents or Russian visa, and the US has revoked his passport. |
| Some European countries are likely to close their airspace to any plane suspected of carrying the fugitive. | Some European countries are likely to close their airspace to any plane suspected of carrying the fugitive. |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin has refused to hand over the fugitive to the US, but also said that he could only stay in Russia if he stopped leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin has refused to hand over the fugitive to the US, but also said that he could only stay in Russia if he stopped leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes. |
| A spokesman for Mr Putin told Interfax that the president had not yet reacted to the asylum request, and that the decision on whether it would be granted was not Mr Putin's to make. | |
| Mr Snowden's leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents has led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data. | Mr Snowden's leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents has led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data. |
| The documents have also indicated that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications. | The documents have also indicated that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications. |