Russia: Snowden's asylum extension a local issue

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Russia's Federal Migration Service ( FMS) said Tuesday the potential extension of political asylum for fugitive U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden was a pure matter of its Moscow bureau, not of the headquarters.

"Whatever my employees decide, it will be in accordance with the (Russian) law," FMS head Konstantin Romodanovsky told reporters, in an apparent gesture to de-politicize the issue.

"You will receive necessary information in a timely manner," Romodanovsky was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

He did not say whether Snowden, who received a one-year asylum last July, had pled for an extension, but some media said earlier the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor had been seeking new countries for refuge.

Vladimir Volokh, head of the Public Council of the FMS, said Monday Snowden had to make a written request for the extension, adding "no additional documents are filed if the circumstances have not changed."

Snowden faces three felonies charges in the United States after he unveiled the country's highly classified intelligence project codenamed PRISM. He fled to Russia in June, 2013, only to find his passport revoked by Washington and was reportedly trapped in a Moscow airport's transit area for nearly a month before receiving the temporary asylum.

The 30-year-old analyst has been trading fires with his government occasionally, revealing increasing information about Washington's tapping intrigues.

Snowden also said he was open to the potential clemency or amnesty and would like to return home someday. Meanwhile, Washington said he would definitely face trial for exposing top secret information if he returns.

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