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The former CIA and NSA employee appears to have bid the U.S. farewell for good. Or has he?
Edward Joseph Snowden, a former technical specialist and agent for the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is now officially a tax resident of Russia. His registered fiscal address is located in the Moscow region.
According to a journalistic investigation, the first four digits of Snowden’s Russian taxpayer identification number (INN) — 5027 — correspond to Interdistrict Tax Inspectorate №17 in the Moscow Region, located on Kotelnicheskaya Street in the city of Lyubertsy.
Snowden and his wife, Lindsay Mills, had previously kept their place of residence confidential. However, journalists found Instagram posts by Mills tagged in the Lyubertsy area. Still, this doesn’t necessarily mean the couple lives or owns property there. Notably, Tax Office №17 in Lyubertsy also services other former foreign nationals who have acquired Russian citizenship.
Snowden was granted Russian citizenship in September 2022 by presidential decree from Vladimir Putin. Around the same time, Russia announced a partial mobilization for Special Military Operation in Ukraine. In theory, 39-year-old Edward (born June 21, 1983) could have been drafted. However, his lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, clarified that Snowden was not subject to conscription, as he had never served in the Russian military and had no combat experience.
At the same time, the U.S. State Department stated that it had no information indicating Snowden had renounced his American citizenship — and it appears he hasn’t.
Washington continues to monitor the fugitive’s life in Russia closely, but has no practical means of apprehending him. In the U.S., Snowden faces charges under two provisions of the Espionage Act, each carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
In early February, President Donald Trump stated that he was «not involved» in any decision concerning a potential pardon for Snowden. Still, the very mention of the issue suggests that some discussions may be taking place in the U.S.
To recap: in June 2013, Snowden handed over approximately 200,000 classified NSA documents to journalists from The Washington Post and The Guardian, exposing the agency’s vast global surveillance operations. He then fled to Hong Kong and later to Moscow, where he spent 40 days in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport after the U.S. revoked his passport. During that time, he sought political asylum from 27 countries — all of which turned him down.
Eventually, Russia granted him asylum. In 2014, Snowden was granted temporary residency, followed by permanent residency in 2020. Around the same time, he applied for a Russian passport. His memoir, Permanent Record, which recounts his story, was published in the fall of 2019.
Snowden has not ruled out the possibility of standing trial in the U.S., but only if he is allowed to explain to a jury why he leaked classified information to the press. He also insists that the jury must be granted access to the disclosed materials, which remain classified — a condition that suggests any trial would likely be held behind closed doors.
According to a Pentagon report, Snowden stole a total of 1.7 million classified files. Most of these documents reportedly pertain to «vital operations» carried out by the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
«A fair trial is impossible without disclosing information», Snowden argues. «Returning to the U.S. merely to receive a sentence would set the wrong example for others who find themselves in similar situations».
At first, Snowden lived a secluded life, taking steps to keep his whereabouts hidden. But soon, his partner Lindsay Mills joined him and eventually became his wife — their marriage was registered at a regular Russian civil registry office (ZAGS). Mills proved to be a vibrant companion, taking Snowden to museums, theaters, and exhibitions. Today, the couple is raising two sons, both born in Moscow.
Recently, according to Snowden’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, Mills has submitted an application for Russian citizenship.
«To my knowledge, she is going through the standard process for those who qualify», the lawyer explained. «She has lived in Russia for over five years, so her application follows the usual naturalization procedure». He added that Mills has no legal issues and is expected to receive her passport without difficulty.
Still, Snowden does not view Russia as his family’s final destination. He reportedly considered relocating to Switzerland not long ago. In any case, he remains cautious when speaking about the United States and deliberately avoids giving interviews to Russian media — while also refraining from criticizing his new homeland.
It is believed that Snowden is closely monitoring the shifts in U.S.-Russia relations under President Trump — developments that could ultimately influence his future.