Snowden free to travel across Russian, official saysAugust 9, 2013 - 17:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is legally free to travel around Russia and occupy any non-state job in the country, a senior migration official said on Friday, Aug 9, according to RIA Novosti. Last week Russia granted Snowden - who is wanted by the United States on espionage and theft charges after leaking classified information about the U.S. National Security Agency’s surveillance programs - one-year temporary asylum despite protests from the US government. “In accordance with the law, he has the right to move around Russia’s territory, and has the right to work, except, of course, in state offices,” Oleg Molodiyevsky, head of the Federal Migration Service’s Moscow Region branch, which issued Snowden the temporary asylum document, told reporters Friday. Molodiyevsky said Snowden is free to go to any Russian region, though he must notify the agency of his intention to do so. He did not say where Snowden is living at the moment. The head of the migration service in Moscow, Olga Kirillova, said her office had no knowledge of where Snowden was as of Friday. “I don’t have any such information; he is not in Moscow,” Kirillova told reporters. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. For the first time, Armenia votes in favor of Georgia resolution in UN Armenia on Tuesday, June 4 voted for the first time in favor a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Moscow warns Armenia against leaving Russian-led defense bloc Armenia could ruin its military ties with Russia if it continues drifting towards the West, according to a senior official in Moscow. |