On Friday, former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden swore an oath of allegiance to Russia and received a Russian passport.
In September, President Vladimir Putin granted Snowden Russian citizenship, after he exposed widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency and fled the US
Advocates of Snowden hail him for exposing the scale of US spying and alleged violation of privacy, while opponents claim he endangered lives for exposing secret methods.
“I’m in Russia because the White House intentionally canceled my passport to trap me here. They downed the President of Bolivia’s diplomatic aircraft to prevent me from leaving, and continue to interfere with my freedom of movement to this day.”
– Edward Snowden, December 2, 2022
In July 2013, Bolivia’s presidential jet carrying Evo Morales from Russia to Bolivia was forced to land in Austria due to suspicion that Snowden might have been on board.
