The accused National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance leaker, Edward Snowden, has been granted temporary asylum by the Russian government on August 1, 2013. Edward Snowden’s release of U.S. “Prism” program data created an upheaval throughout the world and certain U.S. allies openly criticized the government for spying on their citizens as well as the government itself. The Federal government filed an Espionage Act violation against the leaker in Federal Court in Alexandria, VA. Granting a temporary asylum to the accused leaker creates a challenge for U.S. – Russia relationship.
It appears that the planned one-on-one meeting between two Presidents before the scheduled G 20 Summit in September in Russia may be in jeopardy. Both parties in the Congress are asking for a review of U.S. relationship with Russia. Russian government is known to crackdown on critics and previous Americans who obtained asylum is Russia complaining about mistreatment by the Russian government. Some reports also indicate that only 14 people were granted asylum in Russia within last five years and all of them are unhappy living in Russia. The lost opportunities could strain relationship between the two countries, creates enormous difficulties for the rest of the world, and a missed opportunity to address hot issues such as Syria.