Owais Crawford
On June 23, 2013, Edward Snowden landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, where he stayed for 39 days. Snowden was a fugitive from the US government, which had cancelled his passport, effectively restricting him to the airport's transit area. Snowden's whereabouts within the airport were a closely guarded secret, with sources speculating that he stayed in a hotel for transit passengers in Terminal E, known as the V-Express or Capsule Hotel, or in the Novotel Hotel. Snowden reportedly passed the time by reading classic Russian literature and surfing the internet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow |
| Dates | 23 June 2013–1 August 2013 |
| Duration | 39 days |
| Reason | Passport cancelled by the US government |
| Accommodation | Confined to the airport's transit section; possibly stayed at the Capsule Hotel in Terminal E |
| Food | Burger King |
| Activities | Reading, surfing the internet, meeting with lawyers and activists |
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What You'll Learn
- Snowden stayed in the transit section of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport for 39 days
- He was restricted to the airport due to his passport being cancelled by the US
- Snowden spent time reading and surfing the internet while at the airport
- He stayed in a room in the Capsule Hotel, Terminal E, with no bodyguards or minders
- Snowden's asylum in Russia sparked outrage in Washington
Snowden stayed in the transit section of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport for 39 days
On June 23, 2013, Edward Snowden landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Snowden discovered that the US government had cancelled his passport, restricting him to the airport's transit area. Snowden stayed in the transit section of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport for 39 days. During this time, he was confined to a room and had limited access to the outside world, including only a few hours a day to scavenge for food in the airport hotel. Snowden's lawyer, Kucherena, provided him with books and helped him stay connected to the internet.
While Snowden's precise whereabouts within the airport remained a secret, it is believed that he spent at least some time at the Capsule Hotel in Terminal E. This hotel offered "cruise-ship style beds with clean towels and a standalone shower" to transit passengers. Snowden's lawyer, Kucherena, also brought him new clothes and shoes, as he had arrived with almost no luggage.
During his time in the airport, Snowden summoned human rights activists and lawyers to meet him on July 12 to prepare for a temporary asylum request in Russia. He appeared in good health but experienced the psychological pressures of the waiting game. People from all over Russia offered Snowden lodging, protection, and money.
On August 1, 2013, Snowden's airport limbo ended, and he was granted temporary asylum in Russia for one year by the Federal Migration Service.
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He was restricted to the airport due to his passport being cancelled by the US
Edward Snowden was restricted to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport due to his passport being cancelled by the US. He landed at the airport on June 23, 2013, aboard a commercial Aeroflot flight from Hong Kong. Snowden had a seat reserved to continue to Cuba but did not board that flight.
Snowden's passport was revoked during his transit to Moscow, preventing him from obtaining a ticket to leave Russia. The US government had cancelled his passport, effectively restricting him to the airport's arrivals transit area. He was unable to officially leave or enter the country. Snowden was confined to a room in the transit section of the airport, where he had access to the internet and books. He was allowed out for a few hours a day to get food from the airport hotel.
Snowden remained at the airport for 39 days, during which he summoned human rights activists and lawyers to meet him and prepare for a temporary asylum request in Russia. He was granted temporary asylum in the country for one year by the Federal Migration Service. Snowden's precise whereabouts during his time at the airport were a closely guarded secret, and he managed to evade the press on several occasions. It is believed that he spent at least some time at the Capsule Hotel in Terminal E, a "capsule hotel" offering “cruise-ship style beds with clean towels and a standalone shower" to layover passengers.
Snowden's stay at the Moscow airport ended on August 1, 2013, when he was granted asylum in Russia and allowed to leave the airport.
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Snowden spent time reading and surfing the internet while at the airport
Edward Snowden spent 39 days in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, having landed there on June 23, 2013, aboard a commercial Aeroflot flight from Hong Kong. Snowden's passport had been cancelled by the US government, restricting him to the airport's transit area.
Snowden reportedly spent his time reading and surfing the internet. He was provided with books by his lawyer, including Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, a collection of stories by Anton Chekhov, and writings by the historian Nikolai Karamzin. Snowden also received an alphabet book to help him start learning Russian.
Snowden had arrived with almost no luggage, so his lawyer brought him new clothes, including shirts and shoes. He was confined to a room where he had no bodyguards or minders. He was allowed out for a few hours a day to scavenge for food in the airport hotel, where he and his companion, Sarah Harrison, grew sick of eating Burger King.
Snowden reportedly spent time in the Capsule Hotel, located in the transit zone of Terminal E. The hotel offered "cruise-ship style beds with clean towels and a standalone shower" to passengers on layover. Snowden also may have stayed in the Novotel Hotel, which caters to travellers with longer layovers in Russia who lack Russian visas.
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He stayed in a room in the Capsule Hotel, Terminal E, with no bodyguards or minders
On June 23, 2013, Edward Snowden landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Snowden discovered that his passport had been cancelled by the US government, effectively restricting him to the airport's transit area. Snowden stayed in the transit section of the airport for 39 days before leaving on August 1.
Snowden stayed in a room in the Capsule Hotel, Terminal E, with no bodyguards or minders. The Capsule Hotel has been described as "less-than-glamorous", with grey rooms that are sparse, basic but clean. Snowden reportedly spent his time in the airport reading and surfing the internet. He was not able to go outside, but he remained in good health and told his lawyer he had "been in worse circumstances".
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Snowden's asylum in Russia sparked outrage in Washington
On June 23, 2013, Edward Snowden landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, having flown from Hong Kong. Snowden discovered that his US passport had been revoked, and he was restricted to the airport's transit area. Snowden spent 39 days in the transit section before being granted temporary asylum in Russia for one year.
The US-Russia relationship was already strained, and Snowden's asylum further corroded relations. Washington criticized Russia's human rights record and took issue with Russia's intervention in Syria. There were discussions about cancelling a planned summit between the two nations' presidents.
Snowden's actions and his presence in Russia posed a dilemma for Putin. On the one hand, Russia was reluctant to get involved due to its tense relationship with the US. On the other hand, Snowden's disclosures and status as a whistleblower created a sensitive situation. Putin was sensitive to offending Washington, initially stating that Snowden's asylum request would not be considered unless he stopped leaking information. Snowden withdrew his initial request but later reapplied after making that promise, forcing Russia's hand.
Snowden's asylum status in Russia has been extended over the years, and he has been granted a three-year residency permit, allowing him to travel within Russia and abroad for short periods. In 2020, Russia granted him unlimited permanent residency, and Snowden announced his intention to apply for Russian citizenship.
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Frequently asked questions
Snowden stayed in the transit section of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Snowden stayed at the airport for 39 days, from 23 June 2013 to 1 August 2013.
Snowden spent his time at the airport reading, surfing the internet, and meeting with lawyers and human rights activists. He was also interviewed by journalists during his time at the airport.
Snowden was stuck at the airport because the US government had cancelled his passport, restricting him to the airport's transit area. He was seeking asylum in Russia and other countries, but the process took time.
After leaving the airport, Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia and was able to live and work in the country while his application for permanent political asylum was considered.
