If you’re wondering where is Snowden currently, the short answer is he’s in Russia. Specifically, he lives in the Moscow area. But "living in Russia" sounds like a cold, static line from a spy novel. The reality for Edward Snowden in 2026 is a lot more suburban, complicated, and surprisingly domestic than most people imagine.
He isn't hiding in a dark bunker or a high-security gulag. He’s a husband, a father of two young sons, and—as of a few years ago—a full-blown Russian citizen.
The Current Location: Where is Snowden Currently Living?
Most people still picture him trapped in the transit lounge of Sheremetyevo Airport. That was a long time ago. These days, Snowden’s life is centered around Moscow and its outskirts. Investigative reports, including data from the Russian Federal Tax Service, have linked his registration to Lyubertsy, a gritty but modernizing suburb on the eastern edge of the capital.
Lyubertsy isn't exactly the Ritz. It’s known for Soviet-era apartment blocks and a bit of a tough reputation from the 90s. But it’s also a place where a family can blend in. His wife, Lindsay Mills, who joined him in 2014, occasionally posts glimpses of their life on Instagram—photos of snowy parks and domestic scenes that look remarkably normal for a man the U.S. government still labels a fugitive.
His Legal Status and Citizenship
The big shift happened in September 2022. That’s when Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting Snowden full Russian citizenship.
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Honestly, it was a move of necessity. Snowden explained on social media that after years of exile, he and Lindsay wanted stability for their family. They didn't want to risk being separated from their children, who were born on Russian soil and were already citizens. He holds a Russian passport now. He also pays taxes. In 2025, investigators found his taxpayer identification number (INN) in public databases, showing he’s fully integrated into the Russian administrative system.
What Does He Actually Do All Day?
You might think he’s working for Russian intelligence. He’s always denied that. In fact, one of the conditions Putin famously set early on was that Snowden had to stop "harming our American partners."
Snowden mostly stays in the tech and advocacy world.
- President of the Freedom of the Press Foundation: He’s still the president of this San Francisco-based nonprofit. He does this via encrypted video calls.
- IT Consulting: He reportedly works for a large, unnamed Russian IT firm.
- Public Speaking: He is a frequent guest at international tech and privacy conferences. He appears as a "digital ghost"—a giant face on a screen, beamed in from an undisclosed Moscow location.
- Substack and X (formerly Twitter): He’s very active online. He writes about AI, government overreach, and crypto.
It’s a weird existence. He’s physically in Russia, but his mind and work are almost entirely in the West. He lives in a Russian timezone but works on a global one.
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Is He Ever Coming Home?
This is the question that keeps people searching for where is Snowden currently. He has said repeatedly that he wants to return to the United States. But there’s a massive catch.
He wants a "public interest defense." Basically, he wants to be able to tell a jury why he leaked those documents—to argue that exposing mass surveillance was a service to the public. Under the Espionage Act of 1917, that's not allowed. The jury would only be asked if he broke the law, not if he was "right" to do it.
The U.S. government hasn't budged. They still want him to face the original charges. In 2025, political figures like Tulsi Gabbard (who has been sympathetic to whistleblowers) moved into high-level roles in the U.S. government, which sparked some rumors about a pardon. But so far? Nothing. No deal. No pardon.
The Ukraine Factor
Living in Russia during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has made things harder for his public image. Critics often point out his silence on Russian domestic policy or the war. Snowden has pushed back, saying he has criticized Putin in the past, but he also acknowledges his precarious position. He’s a guest—and now a citizen—of a country that is effectively his only shield against a life sentence in an American prison.
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Actionable Insights: Following the Snowden Story
If you’re following this case, here is how you can stay updated on the facts without falling for the "spy movie" tropes:
- Check the Freedom of the Press Foundation: This is his primary professional tie. Their reports often reflect his current views on privacy.
- Monitor his Substack: He uses "Continued Fractions" to post long-form thoughts. It’s the most direct way to see what he’s thinking without the filter of Russian or American media.
- Look for Court Rulings: Occasionally, U.S. courts rule on the legality of the programs he exposed. For example, the 2020 ruling in United States v. Moalin confirmed that the NSA's bulk phone data collection was indeed illegal—the very thing Snowden told us a decade ago.
Edward Snowden is currently a Russian citizen living a suburban life in Moscow, trapped by a legal stalemate that shows no signs of breaking. He’s no longer just a whistleblower; he’s a father of two, an IT worker, and a permanent fixture in the debate over who owns our digital data.
To get a real sense of his daily perspective, you can read his memoir, Permanent Record, which details the transition from the transit lounge to his permanent life in exile.