Snowden granted one year's temporary asylum in Russia

Fugitive 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. (Xinhua Photo)

Fugitive  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," the Interfax news agency quoted Anatoly Kucherena as saying.

Kucherena said the documents allow Snowden to move freely within Russia and the former CIA contractor has 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.

He said Snowden would choose where he lived. "He can either live in a hotel or rent a flat," Kucherena said.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Interfax that Moscow is aware of the atmosphere created in United States over Snowden, but has not received "any signals" regarding the cancelation of  President Barack Obama's visit to Russia in September.

On Wednesday, Snowden's father, Lon Snowden, said in an interview with a Russian state-run television station that 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international airport on June 23, and has reportedly been stranded in the transit zone since then as his passport was revoked by his government.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.