Former employee of the U.S. special services Edward Snowden could spend weeks, even months, in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, Russia Federal Migration Service Public Chamber Chairman Vladimir Volokh told Interfax on Friday.
“He could stay in Sheremetyevo until his legal status is determined. The legislator has set the timeline of up to three months but the procedure could be extended for another three. So he could be in the transit area for up to six months,” Volokh said.
Volokh is former Federal Migration Service deputy head.
“He is under protection in the transit area for his safety. Even if he is in a temporary accommodation center of the Federal Migration Service, his safety is still the main concern. He is an individual being pursued and his life is in danger,” Volokh said.
“He remains a foreign citizen for now. The procedures to determine his legal status are underway. We know that he is Edward Snowden only from his words. The passport he had has been cancelled,” Volokh said.
“His request for temporary asylum is being considered. He has to stay in the transit area of the airport or, with the approval of border officers, in the temporary accommodation center of the Russian Federal Migration Service,” the officials said.
“If one acts strictly within the law, there are currently no grounds to transfer him to the temporary accommodation center of the Federal Migration Service – his legal status has not yet been determined,” Volokh said.
The Federal Migration Service did not give official comments on the situation with Snowden.
Volokh said on July 25 that there were no legal grounds to extradite Snowden to the United States.
