By Alexei Anishchuk <\/p>\n
MOSCOW Thu Aug 7, 2014 9:38am EDT <\/p>\n
Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden's refugee documents granted by Russia is seen during a news conference in Moscow August 1, 2013. <\/p>\n
Credit: Reuters\/Maxim Shemetov <\/p>\n
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, wanted by the United States for leaking extensive secrets of its electronic surveillance programs, has been given a three-year residence permit by Russia, his Russian lawyer said on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Moscow's relations with the West are at Cold War-era lows over Russia's actions in Ukraine. Russia banned certain food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway on Thursday in response to Western sanctions. <\/p>\n
\"The decision on the application has been taken and therefore, with effect from Aug. 1, 2014, Edward Snowden has received a three-year residential permit,\" Anatoly Kucherena said. \"In the future, Edward himself will take a decision on whether to stay on (in Russia) on and get Russian citizenship or leave for the United States.\" <\/p>\n
He said Snowden could apply for citizenship in 2018 after living in Russia for five years, but that he had not decided whether he wanted to stay or leave. <\/p>\n
The spokesman for the White House National Security Council, Ned Price, said Snowden needed to return to the United States to face charges related to the leaks. <\/p>\n
\"Mr. Snowden faces felony charges here in the United States. He should return to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections,\" Price said. <\/p>\n
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