MOSCOW, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- WikiLeaks Thursday revealed secrets leaker Edward Snowden met with ex-U.S. security officials in Moscow, the whistle-blower website said in a tweet.
The former National Security Agency contractor and computer expert has been living in Russia since being granted temporary asylum earlier in July. WikiLeaks tweeted a link to a photograph of Snowden meeting with former officials of the CIA, NSA, FBI and U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday.
The former security officials, who oppose misuse of intelligence gathering, were in Russia to present Snowden with the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence Award, Russia's government-backed RIA Novosti news service reported.
Snowden's father, Lon, also in Russia to try to visit his son, said he thinks it is the only country where his son can feel safe.
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Lon Snowden also said he doubted his son would return to the United States, RIA Novosti reported.
During the summer, Edward Snowden leaked documentation about the National Security Agency's massive monitoring of cellphone and Internet activities. After fleeing Hong Kong, where he was holed up in a hotel after leaking the information, Snowden lived in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport until Russia granted him temporary asylum.
Edward Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said the former U.S. intelligence contractor was not discussing the possibility of seeking asylum in other countries and has received several job offers.
Kucherena told Rossiya-24 news channel Edward Snowden would be amenable to extending his one-year asylum status in Russia.
Lon Snowden said he was granted a multi-entry Russian visa and he plans to visit the country several times, The New York Times reported.
"I'm his father," he said. "I love my son and again I'm here to meet with Mr. Kucherena and learn more about my son's situation and if the opportunity presents itself I certainly hope that I'll have an opportunity to see my son."
The elder Snowden also said his son stopped leaking information as a condition of his stay in Russia.
"Since he has been in Russia, my understanding is, he's simply trying to keep healthy and safe, and he has nothing to do with future stories," Lon Snowden said.
