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Edward Snowden has received an award from a German city for the 'courage and conscience' he showed in spilling US secrets.

He received the Glass of Reason, award from the citizens of the German city of Kassel worth 10,000 euros (£7,000).

The award's organizers reportedly said that they made this choice because the whistleblower "with courage, competence and reason has taken a conscience decision and put his past life and safety at stake for a bigger thing."



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

(Image: Reuters)

In 2013, computer geek Snowden started revealing classified documents pertaining to mass surveillance practices carried out by US authorities around the globe.

The same year, Russia granted the whistleblower temporary asylum for one year.

In August 2014, Snowden received a three-year residence permit to live in Russia.

In the United States, he faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of espionage and theft of government property.

Kucherena has represented Snowden since 2013.

Glenn Greenwald, a journalist who helped Snowden to leak details of the secret US data, also said the whistleblower was fine.