Edward Snowden 's father expressed satisfaction Wednesday with the way his son , the former National Security Agency contractor , has been treated since being granted asylum in August . Lon Snowden spoke to reporters at Moscow 's Sheremetyevo International Airport as he prepared to return to the United States after a six-day visit , his first reunion with his son since April . `` I felt that this is the best place for him , this is the place where he does n't have to worry about people rushing across the border to render him , '' Lon Snowden said . `` It 's not going to happen here . '' It may not be his last visit , since his son -- charged in the United States for revealing a massive government surveillance campaign -- may wind up remaining in Russia for years . `` My feeling is that , unless the attitude within our government changes dramatically -- and that at a minimum is going to require a change of administration and that 's going to be in several years -- that Russia is the place for him to be at the current time . '' NSA leaker Edward Snowden deserves a Nobel Prize , his father says . Though Russia granted Edward Snowden a one-year asylum , `` that could easily be extended , '' said his father , who described Moscow as modern and sophisticated . `` I could be comfortable living the rest of my life here ; I 'm certain that he could . '' The elder Snowden , who arrived October 10 in Moscow , said the two visited several times . `` He is comfortable , he is independent , he is happy -- which is important to me -- and he is absolutely committed to the decision that he made . '' Lon Snowden said his son told him he had had no contact with Russian security or intelligence . He added that he did not know where his son was living . `` I do n't have an idea . '' Edward Snowden , a 30-year-old former government IT contractor , collected information on spy programs -- in which the National Security Agency mined phone and Internet metadata from thousands of people inside and outside of the United States -- and exposed the program to the media . Anticipating legal consequences , he fled to Hong Kong in late May and flew on June 23 to Moscow , where he holed up at the airport for more than five weeks . U.S. authorities have charged him with espionage and theft of government property . After Russia granted him asylum on August 1 , he left the airport . Snowden 's father : ' I know my son . I know he loves his country . ' Lon Snowden described his son as healthy and happy , with `` a very substantial '' international support network . He accused the news media of mischaracterizing what his son did . `` So many people are so determined in the media to continue to refer to him as a leaker , '' Lon Snowden said . `` In fact , he 's a whistle-blower , by definition . '' He said attempts have been made to demonize his son , but defended him . `` He is someone who shared the truth ; he has enraged many politicians . Not only has he enraged them , he has put their political careers at risk , as they should be . People who were in positions of responsibility , of oversight . '' The reunion came after times when Lon Snowden said he had not expected to see his son ever again . `` I hugged him ; it was , ' I love you son , ' ' I love you , Dad . ' But we hugged a little longer , a little harder , and it was certainly -- it was an important moment . '' Book deals have been dangled that could make his son a rich man , but `` that is not what Edward Snowden wants to do , '' his father said . Though Edward Snowden revealed the surveillance with the assumption that he would accept the consequences , that does not mean he regrets having fled the United States , nor does it mean he plans to return to face charges there , Lon Snowden said . `` That is absolutely absurd , '' he said . `` Nobody questions the decision that he has made , because he would be locked in a dark hole at this point , which certain people would love . ''
`` This is the best place for him , '' Lon Snowden says of his son , Edward . The NSA has been collecting phone records and Internet data from millions of Americans since at least 2001, according to a secret document obtained by NBC News. Feds have charged Edward Snowden with espionage , theft of government property .