I am not putting words in your mouth. You literally state that it impossible that Snowden made a decision to support russia for more malicious reasons. The only scenario you are even willing to consider is that he is innocent by default and he was pressured, without even a drop of nuance.
I’m merely stating the most likely explanation for his actions.
How do you know this? Can you read russian? Have you ever had any type of contact with russian officials or members of the elite (in any capacity)? What do you know about russian doctrine on foreign propaganda? What other historical examples can you cite to strengthen your argument?
You literally state that it impossible that Snowden made a decision to support russia for more malicious reasons
I didn’t say that, I said it’s the most likely explanation.
he is innocent by default
First of all, that’s what I assume by default until given enough information to assume otherwise. I don’t have that information, so why would I assume he’s not being pressuresd by Russia?
How do you know this?
I certainly can’t know for sure, but I can see how Russia treats its citizens that oppose it (e.g. Alexei Navalny). You know, the whole “committed suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head twice” thing. His value to Russia has run its course by now. I’m not saying he was threatened with death or anything, I’m saying there’s a good chance he was made to understand that opposing Russian interests isn’t in his interests.
One does not simply oppose Putin as a public figure in Russia.
That said, I don’t think it’s particularly important anyway. He’s not really an expert on anything, certainly not Russian foreign policy.
I am not putting words in your mouth. You literally state that it impossible that Snowden made a decision to support russia for more malicious reasons. The only scenario you are even willing to consider is that he is innocent by default and he was pressured, without even a drop of nuance.
How do you know this? Can you read russian? Have you ever had any type of contact with russian officials or members of the elite (in any capacity)? What do you know about russian doctrine on foreign propaganda? What other historical examples can you cite to strengthen your argument?
I didn’t say that, I said it’s the most likely explanation.
First of all, that’s what I assume by default until given enough information to assume otherwise. I don’t have that information, so why would I assume he’s not being pressuresd by Russia?
I certainly can’t know for sure, but I can see how Russia treats its citizens that oppose it (e.g. Alexei Navalny). You know, the whole “committed suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head twice” thing. His value to Russia has run its course by now. I’m not saying he was threatened with death or anything, I’m saying there’s a good chance he was made to understand that opposing Russian interests isn’t in his interests.
One does not simply oppose Putin as a public figure in Russia.
That said, I don’t think it’s particularly important anyway. He’s not really an expert on anything, certainly not Russian foreign policy.