1 Aug 2013 19:42

Snowden's father grateful to Russia for granting asylum to his son

MOSCOW. Aug 1 (Interfax) - Father of former employee of the U.S. special services Edward Snowden, Lon Snowden, said he thanked the Russian authorities for the decision to grant asylum to his son.

Lon Snowden said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 (Russia 24) TV channel that he was very grateful to the Russian people, President Vladimir Putin and lawyer Anatoly Kucherena for what they had done, for their courage and humanity.

Lon Snowden said that Russia's decision deserved respect and that he thanked Russia for it.

Kucherena, consulting Edward Snowden, told Interfax on Thursday that he had been granted temporary asylum in Russia for one year. Edward Snowden has already left Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.