Is Edward Snowden finally safe?

Russia grants the NSA leaker temporary asylum, and the U.S. isn't too happy about it

Snowden leaves airport
(Image credit: AP Photo/Associated Press Television)

After five weeks spent holed up in the transit area of a Moscow airport, NSA leaker Edward Snowden finally crossed over to Russian soil on Thursday after his request for temporary asylum was approved.

The move gives Snowden the freedom to move around inside Russia, where he will, for now, be safely out of the reach of American authorities. He has one year to live and work inside Russia while figuring out a more lasting solution.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.