The US government is vigorously pursuing Snowden’s extradition. Photo: Reuters

The Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) on Tuesday said that the former CIA contractor Edward Snowden cannot hope to receive Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure. FMS Deputy Director Vladimir Burov said that there does not exists a legal framework allowing him to do so. Previously, the FMS warned of the possibility that Snowden would be stuck at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow for 6 months. The Moscow immigration office, which belongs to the FMS, is considering granting temporary asylum for 3 months to Snowden, but he must pass a compulsory health check. The US government is vigorously pursuing Snowden’s extradition. He was accused of espionage after leaking details of a secret US surveillance program called PRISM.