Snowden granted one year's temporary asylum in Russia: lawyer

MOSCOW, August 1 (Xinhua) -- Fleeing U.S. intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has received temporary asylum in Russia for one year, and has moved to a safe place, a lawyer assisting him said Thursday.

"I have just delivered documents to him from the Russian Federal Migrant Service (FMS)," the Interfax news agency quoted Anatoly Kucherena as saying.

Kucherena said the documents allowed Snowden to move freely within Russia and the former intelligence contractor had left the transit zone for a location that would not be disclosed.

"I hope you will treat this vague information with understanding ... the safety issue is a very serious one for him," the lawyer said.

The FMS confirmed the granting later in the day.

"One of the district subdivisions of the Federal Migration Service Department for the Moscow region has decided to grant Mr. Snowden the status of temporary asylum," FMS spokesperson Zalina Kornilova told local media, adding the Snowden case was nothing special.

"I emphasize that this is not a unique case, so, over a thousand people applied to district subdivisions in 2013 alone, so far," Kornilova said.

Snowden's whereabouts after leaving the transit zone remain a mystery. According to Kucherena, Snowden would choose where he lived. "He can either live in a hotel or rent a flat," Kucherena said.

Currently, Snowden had no "immediate plan" to fly to Latin America, Kucherena said, adding the former U.S. spy agency contractor would stay in touch with his family.

"I am finishing paperwork on the invitation to his father. He will come and we will be able to discuss all issues personally," the lawyer told a local TV station.

On Wednesday, Snowden's father, Lon Snowden, said in an interview with a Russian news channel he hoped his son could find protection in Russia, and he would come to Moscow.

Snowden arrived at Moscow's Sheremetyevo international airport on June 23, and has reportedly been stranded in the transit zone since then as his passport was revoked by his government. He faces espionage charges after disclosing a classified intelligence surveillance project code-named PRISM.

President Vladimir Putin, calling Snowden "a transit passenger" who had arrived in Russia without invitation, has repeatedly said Moscow is not going to harm its relations with Washington, and that Snowden must handle his affairs "without our involvement."

According to the president, the relationship between Russia and the United States "is more important than any intelligence scandal."

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Thursday Moscow was aware of the atmosphere created in United States over Snowden, but had not received "any signals" regarding the cancelation of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Russia in September.

Local experts said the possible impact of the event on Russia-U.S. ties was foreseeable, as Snowden would have crossed the Russian border sooner or later. The U.S. was unlikely to take any steps that would seriously harm bilateral ties, they said.