Snowden Became a Russian Citizen
By decree of Vladimir Putin, Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who had sought asylum in Russia, has received Russian citizenship after years of his status being in limbo. This decree is essentially a jab at the United States by Putin.
Snowden, who during the Obama years and at the height of the Russia-U.S. confrontation, exposed the security activities of the National Security Agency, became a hero to many civil activists.
He was essentially responsible for exposing numerous security forces, causing significant challenges for the U.S. in its fight against terrorism, and providing serious assistance to Putin’s position in opposition to the United States.