Fugitive former NSA employee Edward Snowden, who has said he wants to apply for asylum in Russia, is studying his options and likely to make a decision shortly, according to a well-known Russian lawyer.

Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, who participated in the fugitive's meeting with human rights activists at a Moscow airport last week, said Snowden had contacted him for consultations.

"We are actively consulting and I believe that he will make up his mind in the coming days," Kucherena said, as cited by international media.

The lawyer explained that he was helping Snowden navigate through the complexities of the Russian legislation. He was also explaining the difference between the status of refugee, political asylum and temporary asylum to Snowden.

The fugitive could be issued a special document which would allow him to stay in Russia while his asylum request is considered, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

If Snowden files a request for refugee status with the Federal Migration Service, the request will be considered, the source said, even though Snowden's passport was recently canceled by the US and he is currently not in possession of any valid documents.

Snowden, 29, admitted to leaking a secret court order to the media in early June, according to which US telecom company Verizon was required to provide data from millions of customers to the US authorities for three months. He also claims an Internet scouring program code-named PRISM allowed the NSA and the FBI to tap into nine US Internet companies and to gather all kinds of information from users, including videos, emails, searches and images.

On June 14, the US authorities charged Snowden under three articles, each of them punishable with up to 10 years in prison. Two of the charges were brought under the 1917 Espionage Act.

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