KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27): Edward Snowden (pictured) announced on Sunday (Feb 27) that he plans to apply for Russian citizenship.

Snowden is an American former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013, when he was an employee and subcontractor.

In a report on Sunday, the New York Post (NYT) reported that Snowden, who stole vast amounts of top-secret data and fled first to China, then Russia, has been hiding out in Moscow for seven years to avoid standing trial on espionage charges in the US.

It said his girlfriend joined him in 2014; they married in 2017 and are expecting a son who’ll be a Russian citizen by birthright.

It added that Snowden is afraid of being separated from his newborn if their citizenships are not the same.

Russia recently eased its citizenship laws, removing the requirement that one must renounce a citizenship of any other country.

NYT reported Snowden saying that they plan to raise their son “with the values of the America we love” and “look forward to the day” they can return to the US.

Snowden has also denied handing the Russian and Chinese governments any confidential information.