DHAKA: US whistleblower Edward Snowden has officially asked to extend his stay in Russia after his visa expires.

His lawyer has told the BBC.

Anatoly Kucherena confirmed that paperwork has been submitted to Russia’s Federal Migration Service.

The current document granting him temporary asylum expires on 31 July.

Snowden fled the US in May 2013 and has been living under temporary asylum in Russia. Last year, he fed a trove of secret intelligence to news outlets.

‘We have gone through the procedure of getting temporary asylum... We have submitted documents for extending his stay in Russia,’ Kucherena told reporters on Wednesday.

BDST: 1957 HRS, JULY 09, 2014