Snowden awaits extended asylum permission in Russia

Former US defense contractor Edward Snowden is seen during an interview with "NBC Nightly News" anchor and managing editor Brian Williams in Moscow in this undated handout photo released May 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has formally requested to extend his asylum status in Russia for another year, but the country's official decision is as yet unknown, a lawyer for Snowden said Thursday.

"Edward still remains in Russia, and we have prepared and submitted a package of documents for the permission of the temporary political asylum for him," Anatoly Kucherena told a local TV channel.

The Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) must abide by "particular procedures," Itar-Tass news agency quoted the lawyer as saying, who added, "We hope that the issue will be resolved today or tomorrow."

The FMS granted Snowden, a former US National Security Agency employee wanted by Washington for intelligence leaks, permission for one-year asylum in Russia on Aug. 1, 2013.