Poking a rights-violating government in the eye by exposing their rights violations, and then asking that government to protect your rights, isn't such a genius move.

Running away and getting protection from a different rights-violating government that you haven't poked in the eye sounds quite a bit less masochist.

It's also common knowledge he didn't go directly to Russia but had his passport canceled by the US, leading to the Russian airport he was transferring through not letting him leave.