Edward Snowden received a permit for permanent residence in Russia, where he now resides with his wife and child. Reuters reported in October 2020 that Russia has given Edward resident status. His Russian attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, told Reuters that “his (Russian) residency status was about to expire and we wanted to extend it.”
He continued, “We submitted the paperwork in April and we acquired rights to permanent residence. As President Trump toyed with the prospect of pardoning Snowden in August 2020, a future return to the United States seemed plausible. Bill Barr, who was attorney general at the time, “vehemently opposed” a possible pardon.
Bill added,
“He was a traitor, and the knowledge he gave our enemies seriously jeopardized the safety of the American people. “He was hawking it around like a businessman. That is not acceptable to us.
Where Is Edward Snowden Now In 2022?
Snowden revealed the birth of his first child, a Russian citizen, towards the end of December 2020.
Along with a picture of himself, his wife, and his newborn child, Edward posted on Twitter,
“The greatest present is the love we share. With a blushing emoji, the couple covered the baby’s face.
In 2014, Lindsay Mills, Snowden’s wife, accompanied him to Moscow. When Edward hurriedly departed their Hawaii home, Mills was furious, Edward said to The Guardian. It would have rendered her an accessory, so Snowden didn’t tell her about his aspirations to be a whistleblower. Mills thought Edward was having an extramarital relationship.
Also Read: Personal Details, Career, And Wealth Of Gil Birmingham
Lindsay’s diary excerpts were released in Snowden’s autobiography, Permanent Record. According to Mills’ writing, the FBI believed that she had murdered Snowden. According to Lindsay, one of the officers “was looking at me like I killed Ed.” He was looking for his body throughout the home.
Mills revealed that she loved him and agreed with his decision to reveal the NSA, contrary to Edward’s expectation that she would be angry with him. 2017 saw the marriage of Snowden and Mills in a Russian courtroom.
Snowden was halted in Moscow on his way to Ecuador, where he intended to seek refuge.
Snowden intended to travel to Ecuador after departing Hong Kong to look for refuge there. But he had to go through Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. He discovered that his passport had been revoked by the US government at the airport. Snowden was promised assistance by Russian intelligence services in exchange for any secrets he could be harboring.
According to Snowden,
“I didn’t corporate with the Russian intelligence agencies — I haven’t and I won’t.” “I removed my ability to view the archive. I didn’t bring any material with me when I left Hong Kong since I knew I would have to navigate a difficult multi-jurisdictional process.
Before moving to Russia, Snowden was refused refuge by 27 countries. His early years in Russia were ruled by paranoia because he was afraid that US spies would seek revenge by targeting him. According to Edward,
“I was very much a guy the most powerful government in the world wanted to go away.”
“It didn’t matter to them if I was sent to prison. They didn’t care if I disappeared beneath the earth. Simply put, they wanted me gone. But as time passed, he stopped hiding and began to roam the city without restriction.
Through video links, Snowden makes money by speaking to students and civil rights groups both locally and internationally. Despite being confined to Russia’s boundaries, Edward enjoys traveling and has a lot to see there. According to Snowden, who has lived in Russia for years, his opinion of the country has altered. He stated:
The fact that Russia is one of the most beautiful places in the world is one of the things that is lost in all the troublesome politics of the Russian government. The locals are cordial. The locals are friendly. And when I first arrived here, I had no idea what was going on. They were the huge bastion of the adversary, which is how a CIA operative views Russia, therefore I was afraid of this location.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation’s president is Edward. According to Edward Snowden’s Twitter profile, he was formerly employed by the government but is now a public servant.
In 2014, Snowden became a board member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and in 2016, he was elected as its president. In the twenty-first century, the Foundation wants to “guard, defend, and empower” public-interest journalism.
Edward has denounced government efforts to invade citizens’ privacy. Social media companies are still under pressure to give authorities privileged access to messages that are encrypted.
Snowden called allowing the government such access for the first “Global Encryption Day” a “colossal error.” Tech firms contend that message encryption is essential for preserving individual privacy.
Governments, on the other hand, worry that encryption can impede inquiries into crimes like terrorism. According to CNBC, Snowden thought that the government shouldn’t have access to people’s information:
“It was intended to shield us from the institutional behemoths that, whether in the past or now, sort of marched across the cities of our day. It served as a protective barrier that let those of us who, as individuals, had little social influence the freedom to act, think, and associate as we like.
Although Snowden is still in exile in Russia, governments all around the world are still affected by him. He seems to take pride in serving as a public defender.
Also Read: Kelly Price’s Partner, Spouse, Children, And Parents