MOSCOW, September 8 (RAPSI) – Swiss authorities consider bringing US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden from Russia in order to question him over the US top-secret surveillance programs, SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported Monday.

Snowden, former National Security Agency contractor and CIA employee, leaked classified evidence of US government surveillance programs to The Washington Post and The Guardian in the summer of 2013.

In June 2013, US authorities charged Snowden under three articles, each of them stipulating punishment of up to 10 years in prison. Two of the charges were brought under the 1917 Espionage Act.

Having initially fled to Hong Kong, he arrived in Moscow in June 2013.

Snowden was granted in late August a a three-year residence permit which can be later extended for three more years. He is now living at an undisclosed location in Russia.