Edward Snowden's lawyer Anatoli Kucherena said on Wednesday that the American whistleblower might apply for Russian citizenship and he doesn't want to leave Russia until he is granted the temporary asylum.
"As soon as the (refugee) status is granted, he is free to decide whether or not he will stay in Russia. If he leaves for somewhere else, his status will be annulled," said the Russian lawyer who is providing legal services to the whistleblower, according to various reports.
Snowden is holed up in the transit zone of Moscow's airport since he flew from Hong Kong following an arrest warrant issued by the Washington government on charges of espionage and theft of government property.
The White House on Tuesday urged the Moscow government to expel the American fugitive and send him back to the United States to face the two felonies.
"I am more concerned with the hysteria around that case, with daily statements of the U.S. State Department. Actually, the man got into a difficult situation in our country so we cannot but exercise humane attitude to him," said the lawyer.
The former CIA analyst has made asylum requests to more than 25 countries but many of them have turned down his appeal except a few countries in Latin America.
Snowden's passport had been revoked by his government and he fears that he might not be granted passage across European airspace. The Bolivian president's jet was forced to reroute recently while flying from Russia after France and Portugal denied the jet's entry into their airspace on suspicion that Snowden was with the president on board.
"We can't and we wouldn't act like other countries. Russia has an independent foreign policy and will continue with it. I hope that our partners will understand that and will keep calm and will understand the situation. Interstate connections are much more important than special services' dirty tittle tattle," said the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Putin this week said U.S.-Russia relationship was more important than the Snowden issue, making it clear that he won't let the intelligence scandal derail the relationship between Moscow and Washington.
"International relations, in my opinion, are more important than the special services' hassles," said Putin. "We have no plans to go into details. We warned Mr. Snowden that any of his actions damaging Russian-U.S. relations are unacceptable for us."
