President Vladimir Putin on Monday granted Russian citizenship to US whistleblower Edward Snowden, according to a presidential decree.
Mr Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency, has been living in Russia for nearly a decade to escape prosecution in the US after leaking highly classified documents on government surveillance programmes.
Mr Snowden, in an apparent announcement that he and his wife had welcomed a second son, said he did not wish to be separated from his family.
"After two years of waiting and nearly 10 years of exile, a little stability will make a difference for my family," he said on Twitter.
Russia granted him permanent residency in 2020. Mr Snowden at the time said he intended to apply for Russian citizenship without renouncing citizenship in the US.
Anatoly Kucherena, a lawyer for Mr Snowden, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Mr Snowden's wife Lindsay Mills, who has been living with him in Russia, will also apply for a Russian passport.
Mr Kucherena said Mr Snowden would not be called up to serve in Moscow's war against Ukraine, a week after Mr Putin ordered a mobilisation of forces, because he had no prior experience in the Russian army.
Shortly after Mr Snowden fled to Russia in 2013, the Department of Justice unsealed charges against Mr Snowden with two violations of the Espionage Act and one count of stealing government property.
US authorities for years have wanted Mr Snowden to return to stand trial. Mr Snowden said in 2019 that he would be willing to return to the US if he is guaranteed a fair trial.
He is one of 75 foreign nationals listed by Mr Putin's decree as being granted Russian citizenship.
Mr Snowden did not immediately return The National's request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
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Dubai Creek Open in numbers
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
