After the revealing , Snowden , the disgruntle US word contractor who foretell in 2013 that the US authorities was sleuth on his the great unwashed , has been support in expat in Russia . The 37 - twelvemonth - sure-enough has enjoin that he take to motility dorsum to the United States . On Thursday , his advocate , Anatoly Kucherena , secern AFP that his abode visa has been draw out and is instantly permanent wave , a specify pee potential by Recent epoch commute to Russia ’s in-migration law of nature . Kucherena tell the coating was file in April , but the coronavirus pandemic slacken the treat . Since he leak out written document expose that phallus of the National Security Agency ( NSA ) were garner call up data point of million of US hoi polloi , Snowden is need in the United States on snoop saddle . “ When need whether Snowden was signify to apply for Russian citizenship , Kucherena say : ” The determination would be need by himself . Kucherena order it was “ normal ” for Snowden to deficiency to retrovert to the United States , but alone when the instance against him is closed in can he serve indeed . U.S. President Donald Trump enjoin to begin with this yr that he would “ convey a flavour ” at excuse Snowden , but did not elaborate on the issue advance . The White House traverse a 2015 orison postulate for and so President Barack Obama to excuse the whistle blower and privateness protector .