Snowden 'safe and fine' after getting permit to enter Russia

Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden's new refugee documents granted by Russia is seen during a news conference in Moscow August 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden was safe and felt fine after leaving the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, his lawyer said Friday.

"He has reached his location. He feels fine and is completely safe," Anatoly Kucherena was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

On Thursday, Snowden was granted an one-year permit to stay in Russia following a month-long confinement in the airport's transit area.

An official invitation will also be sent to Lon Snowden, Edward's father, to come to Moscow, Kucherena said.

"We have prepared almost all the documents. Invitations are to be sent to Lon Snowden and his defense attorney on my behalf to come to Moscow," Kucherena said.

Kucherena said, fro security reasons, the time "has not come yet" to disclose Snowden's location.

Also on Friday, US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul met presidential aide Yuri Ushakov to discuss the latest developments in bilateral relations and the status of Snowden, the U.S. diplomatic mission said.

"Michael McFaul and Yuri Ushakov discussed nuclear arms cuts, anti-missile defense, Syria, trade, human rights and the new status of Mr. Snowden," the US Embassy said on its Twitter account.

The White House on Thursday expressed "extreme disappointment" at Russia's decision, saying Washington was "evaluating" a scheduled presidential summit planned for September.