Thomas Drake, a former NSA executive who became a critic of the agency, praised Snowden for speaking truth to power.

“Russia, to its credit, recognized international law and granted him asylum,” he said, asserting that U.S. officials drove Snowden into Russia’s arms by making him stateless. The United States points out that Snowden remains a citizen even though his passport was revoked and that he should return home to answer the charges against him.

“This is an extraordinary person,” said Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst. “He’s convinced what he did was right.”