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July 24th, 2013 
Peter Nolan 
Edward Snowden
(Credit:
The Guardian)
Edward Snowden might soon be allowed to leave the so-called “sterile zone” in Russia’s Sheremetyevo airport, according to reports out of the country.
Russia’s Federal Migration Service has issued a letter to Snowden, through a lawyer, saying that he is free to enter Russian territory while he awaits the country’s decision on his temporary asylum, the BBC is reporting, citing reports out of the country and its own sources. If Snowden acts on the document, he’ll be allowed to stay in Russia during the application process and will be given new clothes, according to the BBC.
Snowden made world headlines by leaking classified information on the U.S. National Security Agency’s tactics. Despite his claims that he’s simply a whistleblower acting in the interests of the American people, the U.S. government has charged him with espionage and wants him to be extradited back to the country to face the charges.
Since June 23, however, Snowden has been holed up at the Moscow airport as he awaits safe passage to several South American countries that have already offered him asylum. However, because the U.S. has revoked his passport, Snowden needs temporary asylum from Russia in order to safely get to the other countries and enter legally.
For its part, the Russian government, led by President Vladimir Putin, has said that it will not turn over Snowden to the U.S. That said, Putin has cautioned Snowden that he can only stay in Russia if he stops leaking information. It’s believed that Snowden has an “insurance policy” of sorts that would see the leaking of even more classified information if something happens to him.
According to the BBC, Snowden should receive the letter from the Federal Migration Service soon, and could leave the airport in a matter of hours.
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