Holed up in Russia on a grant of temporary asylum, Mr Snowden no doubt took a keen interest in the sentencing of Mr Manning.(Photo credit: AFP).
With Mr. Snowden at large in Moscow, where he has been shielded from criminal charges in the United States by a grant of temporary asylum, it was impossible to tell how a film based on his story might end.
On the day that Edward Snowden finally left Moscow's airport in a taxi to take up Russia's offer of temporary asylum and the sentencing portion of Bradley Manning's trial continued, it is worth restating what should be obvious.
Mr. Snowden formally applied on Tuesday for temporary asylum in Russia — a request that could be granted within days and allow him to live and work here for a year or more.
He arrived in the United States holding a valid tourist visa, but because of the circumstances and his intent to return later than he had originally planned, he insisted on asking for "temporary asylum," not fully comprehending what this meant.
He has been staying in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, awaiting a decision from the Russian authorities on his request for temporary asylum.
"This gave him the right to temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation, Kucherena said, holding up a copy of the document.
"This is a certificate that gives him the right to temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian federation," Kucherena said, holding up a copy of the document.
Arguing that the US was preventing him from travelling on to South America, where three countries had said they were willing to grant him asylum, Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia on 16 July.
Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia, a status granted for one year that can be renewed on a yearly basis indefinitely, Kucherena said.
