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Former US intelligence agent Edward Snowden has sworn allegiance to Russia and received his Russian passport, Reuters reported.

Snowden became famous for his revelations about the scale of secret surveillance carried out by the US National Security Agency (NSA).

"Yes, he received his passport and took the oath," his lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told the Russian state news agency.

Snowden himself has not yet responded to a request for comment.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted Russian citizenship to Snowden, 39, who fled the US after leaking to the media thousands of classified files proving widespread surveillance by Washington, including of US allies.

Putin Gives Snowden Russian Citizenship

Edward Snowden's defenders are hailing him as a modern-day dissident who has exposed the extent of US espionage.

His opponents consider him a traitor who has exposed the secret methods of Western spies to eavesdrop on enemy countries and enemy fighters.