Comment by toss1

Because he is their agent. Remember Russia has been the undisputed world champion of dezinformatsiya for centuries - they did a good job of making him appear as the "disgruntled principled whistleblower" they wanted. But most of the stuff he stole had little to do with the NSA activities they publicized, and much to do with key intelligence damage to the USA, including likely loss of lives. That's not protest, it's treason; do not expect him ever to leave RUS soil. I had vaguely thought of him as a good guy too at first, until I looked into it a little deeper.