General Correction: Snowden did not choose to be in Russia. [View all]

[JackRiddler]

Snowden attempted to transit through Russia on his way from Hong Kong to South America, where at least Ecuador offered him asylum. Taking a flight through Russia was the only way to avoid countries that would turn him over directly to the U.S., which has issued a wanted person notice. Nevertheless, he was held up in Russia because the U.S. revoked his passport. The Russian government refused to extradite him to the U.S., but also refused to let him continue to South America. So he accepted their offer of asylum, which was the only alternative to whatever solitary hole the U.S. government has waiting to hold him -- probably for a couple of years before trial, given other "espionage" law precedents. Effectively he's a hostage with no choice in the matter. It may well be that he is under pressures from the Russian government, who still have the power to turn him over to the U.S. He's certainly not in a good position to criticize the Russian government, whatever he may think of it. Despite these well-known and well-reported facts, many who have persistently distorted all of the facts of the Snowden saga think nothing of making him out to be a friend to the Russian government, or even a Russian spy.