NSA leaker Snowden finds place to live in Russia, attorney says

MOSCOW, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. secrets leaker Edward Snowden has decided where he will live in Russia, which granted him temporary asylum, his attorney said Friday.

"He has decided about his accommodation. Everything is fine," said Anatoly Kucherena, a Russian attorney who helped Snowden with his asylum request.

Russia Thursday granted Snowden temporary asylum and he left the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport where he'd been holed up since June 23 after arriving from Hong Kong. Snowden is wanted in the United States on espionage and theft charges after he leaked information about the National Security Agency's massive surveillance programs.

The human rights organization Amnesty International hailed Russia's decision to grant Snowden temporary asylum, calling it a "positive development" while urging Russian authorities to respect Snowden's rights, RIA Novosti reported.

"He should be allowed to travel freely, including outside of Russia, if he wishes," Amnesty International said in a statement Thursday.

The United States had called on Russia to reject Snowden's asylum request and extradite him to the United States. A White House spokesman said the administration was "terribly disappointed" with news that the request for temporary asylum -- which is valid for a year and can be renewed -- was granted.

Kucherena said Thursday Snowden's whereabouts would not be disclosed to protect the former NSA contractor's safety, describing him as "one of the world's most wanted fugitives."