The former US spy agency contractor, Edward Snowden, spent close to six weeks confined to the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport while a diplomatic battle over his future took place between Russia and the United States. Snowden, who is wanted by Washington on espionage charges for leaking details of Internet and phone surveillance programs, has now left the airport armed with an asylum document that is valid for a year and can be renewed annually. Former Russian intelligence officers warn that life will not be easy for Snowden, as past defections have shown that defectors often face internal stress and difficulties for the rest of their lives. Snowden is not the first employee of the US National Security Agency (NSA) to defect to Moscow, with previous defectors experiencing disillusionment with their choices. Despite the end of the Cold War, the challenges faced by defectors remain the same. Snowden is a valuable tool for the Kremlin to use in propaganda, as they frequently criticize Washington for promoting human rights abroad while failing to uphold them at home. According to media expert Anna Kachkayeva, Snowden is now a political figure and a pawn in a larger game. He is seen as a potential threat that could be used for a specific purpose, such as appearing on television, but it is uncertain if or when this will happen. The decision of the Kremlin to provide shelter to Snowden has been well received by the Russian public. A Moscow resident named Ivan expressed his belief that Snowden is not a traitor and that Russia did the right thing. Yevgeny, a resident of St Petersburg, also supported the decision, stating that the Americans had overstepped their boundaries and someone needed to stand up to them. A survey conducted by independent pollster Levada found that 43 percent of Russians supported sheltering Snowden, while 29 percent were against it. Snowden has also received a marriage proposal from former Russian spy Anna Chapman and a job offer from a Russian social networking site. Anatoly Kucherena, a Russian lawyer helping Snowden, confirmed that there were others interested in hiring Snowden, ensuring that he would have no trouble finding employment in Russia. "He mentioned to Reuters that it is possible that he will have his own television show. The Kremlin has not shown any interest in making Snowden a television star, but Russian state television has already given a platform to Julian Assange of Wikileaks to criticize the United States. Snowden will be staying with American expatriates who support his actions for now, according to Kucherena. He also plans to bring Snowden's father, Lonnie, a US lawyer, and other friends to provide moral support. However, Snowden's value to Russia may decrease over time due to the changing political landscape. According to ex-KGB officer Korolkov, defectors like Snowden bring knowledge, skills, and abilities with them, but this information can become outdated and lose its worth. Some experts believe that Snowden may have traded some of his freedom for security in Russia." Misha Glenny, a British author specializing in Internet security and eastern Europe, believes that Snowden may not find Russia as attractive as he initially thought. Glenny suggests that Snowden may encounter challenges in participating in certain activities he desires.