The Russian website LifeNews has published a photo of a man resembling NSA leaker
Max Seddon of Buzzfeed reports that Kucherena, who has links to the Kremlin's security services, told LifeNews that the former CIA technician is thinking about applying for Russian citizenship, which requires that he live in Russia for at least five years.
On August 1 Russia granted Snowden temporary asylum, which Kucherena said gives him "the same rights and freedoms possessed by the citizens of the Russian Federation." It can be renewed indefinitely.
Snowden flew to Moscow on June 23 after spending several days in the Russian consulate in Hong Kong.
During that time WikiLeaks founder Assange had convinced Ecuador's consul in London to provide a document requesting that authorities allow Snowden to travel to Ecuador via Russia "for the purpose of political asylum."
Ecuador's president subsequently said the document was "completely invalid," stranding Snowden in Russia.