Edward Snowden granted asylum in Russia

Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the United States government, became a central figure in a global debate over privacy and government surveillance after he disclosed extensive classified information regarding U.S. intelligence operations. His actions included copying and leaking hundreds of thousands of documents that revealed the extent of government surveillance on both domestic and international communications. Following these revelations, he fled to Hong Kong and subsequently sought asylum in Russia. The Russian government granted him political asylum, which was a pivotal moment in U.S.-Russia relations, as it occurred amidst heightened tensions between the two nations. The U.S. government had issued a criminal warrant for Snowden, charging him with theft of government property and espionage, which further complicated diplomatic interactions.