[boomboomsubban]

>The US government is not why Snowden is in Russia, Snowden is why Snowden is in Russia. He went to Russia intentionally. He wasn't kidnapped, he chose Russia as a destination specifically due to their reluctance to cooperate with the US.

He chose Russia as a layover location, Hong Kong has a limited number of outgoing flights and that likely was the one the US would be least able to grab him. However, the US is why he is in Russia now. You mention that he had a flight to Cuba booked, and his ultimate goal was Ecuador.

There is no proof that he took "state secrets" to Russia. By his account he had destroyed any of his remaining copies before leaving Hong Kong. This is a far more egregious error than confusing a layover stop for being forced to land.