Has Snowden applied for citizenship in Russia? The "asylum" status is temporary, so it seems he

[AlinPA]

will have to change his citizenship. Maybe he has already?

[hrmjustin]

1. He can stay for one year at the moment.

[leveymg]

2. There are foreigners who stay in the US in Asylee status for decades. Not different in Russia.

Unlike Philby, Snowden doesn't seem to have any real ideological affinity with Russia.

What's the point in speculating about things you have no understanding about?

[AlinPA]

3. He's there; there must be some kind of "real ideological affinity", IMO.

[leveymg]

5. He ended up there because it's one of only a few places in the world where he's safe.

As we saw with the Ecuadoran President's plane episode, where ever the US or NATO controls the airspace, Snowden cannot go.

I think a more interesting question is, why he couldn't stay in Chinese HK.

[treestar]

4. Actual citizenship

They give it away too easily if he could get it already. Most countries require some number of years residence in the country.

[1-Old-Man]

6. In some parts of the world temporary means more than a week.

The entire earth does not operate on McDonald's time. Everything does not have to happen immediately. Oh, and your premiss, that a request for asylum would naturally lead to application for citizenship, is really really silly.

[AlinPA]

7. "The man without a country"

[former9thward]

8. Much to your disappointment he remains a citizen of the U.S.

He has a country. This one. Deal with it.