The lawyer for former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden says his client has officially applied to Russia's Federal Migration Service to extend his stay in Russia.
Anatoly Kucherena confirmed the news on July 9, noting that Snowden's current one-year permit granting him temporary asylum expires on July 31.
Kucherena refused to comment on which particular asylum status Snowden had applied for.
Media reports in Russia last week said that Snowden, who once worked for the U.S. National Security Agency, had filed his application with the Russian authorities, but Kucherena neither denied nor confirmed those reports then.
Snowden has been living in Russia since late June 2013.
Last year, Snowden revealed details about Washington's electronic eavesdropping programs, including the mass collection of phone data and spying on foreign leaders' communications.
He is wanted by the U.S. authorities for revealing classified material.
Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS
