Edward Snowden is 'alive and well', according to a lawyer with links to Russia's secret service

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

Rumours spread following a mysterious 64-character tweet appeared on Snowden's Twitter account and was then deleted, triggering speculation that he had been kidnapped or even killed.

The former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, wanted in the US for spilling state secrets, currently has asylum in Russia granted by Vladimir Putin.

Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said: "I can authoritatively say that he is alive and well, he is living in Russia and is busy with his favourite work."

The lawyer, close to the secret services, did not explain how suspicious messages appeared on Snowden's Twitter account, or what they meant.

Nor has Snowden been seen in public.