Edward Snowden 'pictured out shopping in Russia'

10-09-2013 • http://www.telegraph.co.uk, By AFP

A photograph purporting to show Edward Snowden, the US intelligence leaker, out in public for the first time since being granted asylum, has been published by a Russian news website.

In the blurry image published by Life News, a casually dressed man sporting a goatee with sunglasses perched on his head is pictured pushing a supermarket trolley full of groceries across a road.

A car with partly legible Russian plates and a crossing sign identify the scene as in Russia.

"The photograph was taken in Moscow," said Life News, which is known for its close ties to the Kremlin and security services.

There has been no reported sighting of MrSnowden since he walked out of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on August 1 after obtaining temporary asylum in Russia despite protests from Washington.

The 30-year-old former CIA contractor is wanted by the United States after leaking details of massive surveillance by the National Security Agency to the media.

Snowden's Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena has said he is living in a secret location in fear of being tracked down by US law enforcers.

Life News published video extracts from an interview with Kremlin-friendly Mr Kucherena, who refused to confirm that Snowden is living in Moscow.