Edward Snowden’s Father Arrives In Russia To Meet His Son, Who Is Living In A Secret Location And Planning To Find A Job

The father of former U.S. defense contractor, Edward Snowden, arrived in Moscow on Thursday to visit his son, who was granted temporary refuge in Russia in August after he leaked classified intelligence documents, which revealed extensive surveillance programs carried out by the National Security Agency, or NSA.

Lon Snowden, who arrived at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, where his son spent several weeks in limbo after the U.S. revoked his travel documents, said he was not sure whether his son would return to the U.S., Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

“I have no idea what his intentions are, but ever since he has been in Russia, my understanding is that he has simply been trying to remain healthy and safe and he has nothing to do with future stories,” Lon Snowden said, in comments broadcast on Russia’s state-owned English language news channel RT. Edward Snowden was not spotted at the airport.

Edward Snowden faces three counts of charges of espionage and theft of government property, and each charge carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison. The former NSA employee, who is living in a secret location for fear of being tracked by U.S. law enforcers, is planning to find a job in Russia, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

“I think that he is going to seek employment,” his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said, according to RIA Novosti, adding that Snowden currently relies on savings and donations.

“He lives quite modestly in Russia,” the lawyer said.