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Yes, and if you are a citizen of a free country that defects to a mafia state to help in their PR efforts, such an action should be called out for what it is.
Snowden didn't defect to Russia. The US trapped him there by revoking his passport while he was traveling through on the way to Ecuador.
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Maybe because they don't really have a story for why anyone would want to move there, other than running afoul of the same state security organizations that Russia is already opposed to. It's not exactly a huge draw for anyone who does NOT have those unusual security concerns.
It’s harder to only make a moral argument in the case of America which is generally richer than Russia. Why would anyone go to Russia apart from some moral consideration, given that Russian has nothing else to offer? I think that’s a pretty valid argument in certain circles.
The big question is what Russia has to gain from this. Is it just to troll the US?
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By granting Snowden asylum, Russia paints the USA as anti-free speech and pro-surveillance.
To be fair, by going after Snowden the US painted itself anti-free speech and pro-surveillance.
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Snowden is "Exhibit A" for how the US is hypocritical about opposition to surveillance states. Any time the US wants to try to shame Russia at the UN Security Council, Putin can just put a picture of their newest Moscovite up on the projector.
Not to defend the intelligence apparatus in the US (and several other Western countries) but hypocrisy would imply the US is actually acting on its intelligence to target or influence its own people along a similar vein as many authoritarian countries with policies widely criticized in the US. I think that's a very low bar, and we should be able to criticize the US system even though it doesn't have these widespread…
If granted a pardon by the current or future US president, is there any chance that Russia will not let him return home?
Considering that this is mostly about Russia doing a victory lap, I don't think so. If they tried to keep him there it would kind of spoil the whole thing and tip the lie of their supposed benevolence. Much better for the PR to let him go and wish him luck. Probably even have a send off ceremony, give him some kind of medal?
Really really happy and glad to see this news, I hope Snowden lives a better life in there! Kudos to you, our hero!
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Russia doesn't prevent it's citizens from traveling. What prevents it's citizens from traveling is getting a VISA to the destination country. This is granted through the local Embassy or Consolidate of destination country requiring a VISA. Permanent residency is not citizenship. Granting Permanent Residency will give him some sort of stability knowing he will not have to renew his status every year (or so) and be abl…
That's not strictly true. In Russia, unlike US or Europe, you have to show your passport to leave the country, and you can be prevented from leaving by court order.
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If there was a gain would you feel differently about pardoning Snowden?
A pardon is off the table. He committed treason, regardless of Monday morning quarterbacking and saying the ends justify the means. He broke the law. Either it's the law or it's not, and the fact he and Manning broke the law, regardless of what "good" people might see in it, they still broke the law.