The asylum granted by Russia to NSA leaker Edward Snowden ran out last night with no extension announced.His lawyer is quoted in the Russian media as saying he expects an extension, according to AP, but none has been reported so far.
As recently as July 11 a Russian immigration official was quoted as saying he expected a decision in a few days. “I do not see any problem in extending the temporary political asylum,” Vladimir Volokh, head of a key advisory council to Russia’s federal migration service, told the Russian news service Interfax, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“Circumstances have not changed. Snowden’s life is still in danger; therefore the Federal Migration Service has every basis to prolong his status.”
In April, Snowden made a surprise appearance during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual call-in meeting with the nation, submitting what critics considered a softball question about domestic surveillance in the country where Snowden has taken refuge.
Putin appeared at the time to welcome the question as a chance to score a point against the U.S.
By Fred Barbash (The Washington Post)
