NSA contractor and U.S. intelligence whistle blower Edward Snowden has obtained asylum in Russia.

In a statement through Wikileaks, Snowden thanked the Russian Federation for granting him asylum. In the same statement, he accused the U.S. of improperly collecting sensitive intelligence information and having "no respect" for international regulations.

Right after the Snowden debacle, emerging reports said the U.S. obtained restricted data from UK's intelligence wing. Since late June, Snowden has been reportedly staying at a Russian airport zone after his arrival from Hong Kong. He was represented by a Wikileaks spokeswoman.

The Obama administration expressed its disappointment over the asylum saying Snowden is a U.S fugitive, and not a candidate for asylum. Other senior senators and congressmen expressed their anger at Russia's breach of mutuality, saying that no notice was given to the U.S. ahead of the undiplomatic move by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Washington said that a planned summit between President Obama and President Putin later this fall would have to be reconsidered. According to Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden's attorney, the former CIA employee left Sheremetyevo Airport at 10:00 GMT to an undisclosed location.

Mr.Kucherna said Snowden was "the most pursued man on the planet," as he showed reporters the paperwork granting asylum, reports BBC.

Interfax news agency said that the asylum was temporary with a duration of 1 year. Here's Snowden's Asylum Timeline by BBC News.

  • 5 June: First leak published in the Guardian saying the NSA is collecting the telephone records of millions of Americans
  • 6 June: Details of the Prism programmepublished by Guardian and Washington Post
  • 9 June: Guardian identifies Edward Snowdenas source of the leaks, at his own request
  • 14 June: US files criminal charges against Mr Snowden
  • 23 June: Mr Snowden leaves Hong Kong for Moscow, applies for asylum in Ecuador
  • 2 July: Bolivian leader Evo Morales' plane apparently searched for Mr Snowden
  • 6 July: Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua say they would offer Mr Snowden asylum
  • 12 July Snowden gives news conferencesaying he is seeking asylum in Russia"