Why wouldn't it be? The article begins with "his year-long leave to stay in Russia had expired on 31 July" and it's hard to imagine Putin not prolonging Showden

Why wouldn't it be? The article begins with "his year-long leave to stay in Russia had expired on 31 July" and it's hard to imagine Putin not prolonging Showden's permission to stay cause it would be somewhat costly politically for him even if the relationship with the US hadn't deteriorated during this year.