[s_q_b]

That's the problem with defecting to a country without the rule of law. You're always a bargaining chip.

As soon as there is a sufficiently high value trade on the table, Putin will put him on a plane to the United States, without a moment's hesitation.

[ska]

What makes you believe things would be any different in a symmetric situation?

[s_q_b]

Once granted political asylum in the United States, it's virtually impossible to revoke. As much as pessimism is warranted, there are significant substantive differences between Russia and the United States.

[ska]

Oh, there are absolutely substantive differences, I wasn't claiming there was not.

However I imagine politically useful dissident might well be kept in an ambiguous status, if the perceived use as a bargaining chip later was high enough.

Really I was just objecting to the idea that the US is somehow above such shenanigans because of some sort of philosophically deep commitment to the "rule of law". Neither proposition holds much weight on evidence of actual behavior. Which isn't at all to say I believe the US is equally likely to engage in such behavior as Russia, mind you.