U.S. leaker Edward Snowden, a former contract worker with the U.S. National Security Agency, has been staying at the transit zone of Moscow's airport since June 23, but reportedly has been granted papers that allow him to enter Russia.U.S. leaker Edward Snowden, a former contract worker with the U.S. National Security Agency, has been staying at the transit zone of Moscow's airport since June 23, but reportedly has been granted papers that allow him to enter Russia. (The Guardian, Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras/Associated Press) Russia's state news agency says U.S. leaker Edward Snowden has been granted papers that allow him to leave the transit zone of a Moscow airport and enter Russia.


Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia last week after his attempts to leave the airport were thwarted.


The United States wants Snowden, a former contract worker with the National Security Agency, sent home to face prosecution for espionage.


Snowden is believed to have been staying at the airport transit zone since June 23, when he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong.


RIA Novosti quoted an unnamed official on Wednesday saying that Snowden has been issued with documents, allowing him to leave the transit zone at the Moscow Sheremetyevo airport.