Russia agrees to harbor 'America's enemies' for a few more years.

Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been granted permission to remain in Russia for several more years, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

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

This information comes after former CIA Director Michael Morell said that Russian President Vladimir Putin might 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

Zakharova sarcastically remarked that despite his intelligence experience, Morell was unaware that Snowden's residence permit had been renewed. She also stated that the idea of ​​Russia handing Snowden over to the US was unimaginable.

The announcement came hours after outgoing US President Obama commuted the sentence of whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Manning, currently serving a 35-year prison sentence, will be free this coming May.

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

Snowden was considered an enemy of the United States after revealing the mass surveillance program of US intelligence agencies in 2013. That same year, Snowden traveled from Hong Kong to Moscow, staying at the airport for five weeks before being granted temporary residency in Russia. In August 2014, Snowden was granted residency in Russia for three years, until the end of 2017.

According to Vietnamnet