Russia agrees to house 'America's enemies' for several more years

Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been allowed to stay in Russia for several more years, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said.

"Snowden's residence permit has been extended for several years," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook on January 18, the Guardian reported.

The information was released after former CIA Director Michael Morell said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could hand over Snowden to US President-elect Donald Trump as an inauguration gift, even though the US and Russia do not have an extradition agreement.

Photo: Guardian

Ms. Zakharova mocked Mr. Morell for not knowing that Snowden's residence permit had been renewed despite his intelligence experience. And that it was unthinkable for Russia to hand Snowden over to the United States.

The announcement came hours after outgoing US President Obama commuted the sentence of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, meaning Manning, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence, will be released in May.

Snowden did not comment on his stay in Russia but spoke out about President Obama's decision to release Chelsea Manning. Snowden wrote: "In 5 months, you will be free. Thank you for what you have done for everyone, Chelsea."

Snowden was considered an enemy of the United States after revealing the mass surveillance program of American intelligence agencies in 2013. That same year, Snowden traveled from Hong Kong to Moscow, stayed at the airport for 5 weeks, and was then granted temporary residence in Russia. In August 2014, Snowden was granted a residence permit in Russia for 3 years, until the end of 2017.

According to Vietnamnet