US whistleblower Edward Snowden has not only been reunited with his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, but has also got a new furry friend to make Russia a cozier place, a new photo reveals.
The photo, taken this fall in Russia, shows a happy-looking Snowden giving a hearty hug to a timid dog of uncertain breed. The NSA ex-contractor’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, showed the photo to Rossiya 24 TV channel, and said the dog is called Rick.
Snowden, who first asked for a temporary residence permit in Russia in summer 2013, has been living what appears to be a quiet, ordinary life in the Russian capital. This July he also managed to be reunited with Mills, the “Citizenfour” documentary about him has revealed.
READ MORE: 'Citizenfour': Documentary shows Snowden reunited with dancer girlfriend in Moscow
Intriguing image from Citizenfour of Ed Snowden and his girlfriend making food together in Moscow, via @NewYorkerpic.twitter.com/vVu3lHvpDw
— Tom Parfitt (@parfitt_tom) October 11, 2014
Earlier this month, Snowden also met with Hollywood film director Oliver Stone, who is filming a movie about the whistleblower, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Собачьи новости: бывший агент АНБ Сноуден завел себе собаку. Назвал ее редкой для Москвы кл... http://t.co/yel1a3Kwp5pic.twitter.com/e95fyFSz7b
— Pravda.ru (@PravdaRu) November 10, 2014
The script is "based on the Guardian newspaper book and Anatoly's [Kucherena] fictional story on Snowden… in Russia, it's called 'Time of the Octopus'... other sources… include all the interviews and newspaper articles," Stone told the RIA-Novosti news agency.
READ MORE: Oliver Stone eyes Putin documentary to show ‘a different point of view’ to Americans
Эдвард Сноуден тайно посетил оперу в Большом театре http://t.co/Vm9E3twAH9pic.twitter.com/RsvMrH9Ez7
— LIFENEWS (@lifenews_ru) August 5, 2014
In the US, Snowden faces several charges, including espionage and theft of government property, which could see him facing up to 30 years in prison if he returns home.