Former US defense contractor Edward Snowden is seen during an interview with "NBC Nightly News" anchor and managing editor Brian Williams in Moscow in this undated handout photo released May 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden was granted a residence permit for another three years in Russia, his lawyer said Thursday.

"He has got a three-year residence permit starting from August 1," Anatoly Kucherena said at a press conference.

"We filed documents with the Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) beforehand to make sure the extension of Snowden's stay on Russian territory would be considered," the Interfax news agency quoted Kucherena as saying.

The FMS granted Snowden, a former US National Security Agency contractor wanted by Washington for intelligence leaks, permission for one-year asylum in Russia on Aug. 1, 2013.