The father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has applied for a travel visa to Russia and hopes to be able to visit his son as soon as next week.

Lon Snowden, of Allentown, Pa., has said he’s been unable to speak directly to his son since Edward Snowden publicly disclosed details of NSA’s surveillance programs and received asylum in Russia.

Mattie Fein, a spokeswoman for Lon Snowden’s lawyer, Bruce Fein, said Friday that both have applied for travel visas and hope to fly to Russia as soon as possible, maybe by next week.

Fein says the elder Snowden wants to ensure that his son understands his legal situation in the U.S., where he has been charged in federal court in Alexandria, Va., with violations of the Espionage Act.

(AP)