Snowden in Russia: Limbo Update

MOSCOW, July 31. /ITAR-TASS/. US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden still waits for the Russian authorities’ decision either to extend his temporary asylum in Russia for another year or grant him a political asylum, his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said on Thursday.

“Edward still remains in Russia and we have prepared and submitted a package of documents asking for the permission of a temporary political asylum for him,” Kucherena said in an interview with LifeNews television channel.

The Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) granted Snowden one-year permission for the temporary asylum in Russia on August 1, 2013. The permission expires today on July 31.

“The Federal Migration Service must abide by particular procedures,” Kucherena said. “We hope that the issue will be resolved today or tomorrow.”

Interesting that this story portrays Snowden neither in heroic terms nor as certain to continue to benefit from Russian protection. Not sure what to make of that, except that I wonder if Putin---in locked in conflict with the U.S. over Ukraine---is signaling, by leaving Snowden hanging, that he's a potential bargaining chip in U.S.-Russian relations. I'm still betting that Snowden's asylum will be extended, but I'll be keeping an eye on developments over the next few days.