Edward Snowden meets father in Russia

Xinhua | Updated: 2013-10-12 14:39

MOSCOW - Fugitive US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has met with his father in Russia, local media said Friday.

"Their meeting has already taken place. It was very emotional," the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is seen during an interview by The Guardian in his hotel room in Hong Kong in this June 6, 2013, file still image taken from video. [Photo/Agencies]

The meeting's time and place were not disclosed for security reasons, said the insider.

Lon Snowden, father of Edward, arrived in Moscow early Thursday with a multi-entry visa.

Upon his arrival, Lon said he was pleased that his son was safe and free. He also expressed his "extreme gratitude" to Russian President Vladimir Putin and others for helping Edward find his place in the country.

In a live interview with Russian-24 TV station later in the day, Lon said he had not talked to his son directly since April.

Snowden's Russian attorney Anatoly Kucherena, who accompanied Lon, said the 30-year-old "is leading a quite reclusive lifestyle these day" because he is being persecuted by the US government and the danger lingers.

The former US National Security Agency contractor faces espionage charges by the US government after disclosing a classified intelligence project code-named PRISM. He received a one-year asylum after being trapped in a Moscow airport for more than a month.

Russian authorities have not commented on Lon's arrival so far.