Snowden to Be Granted Stay in Russia

Former NSA employee Edward Snowden, who has been living in the transit zone of Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, will be issued a special document which will allow him to stay in Russia while his asylum request is considered, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti. He said that if Snowden files a request for refugee status with the Federal Migration Service, the request will be considered, even though Snowden's passport was recently cancelled by the US and he is currently not in possession of any valid documents. The source said the prehearing of Snowden's request would take up to five days and the examination proper up to three months. The Federal Migration Service can extend the period of consideration by another three months in special cases. "If a decision is made to examine a request, the applicant is issued a document to this effect. This document will also serve as his or her ID and will give the applicant the right to stay in Russia for the duration of the procedure," the source said.

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