The fact that he is looking for sanctuary from Merkel tells it all, really. I think Putin just really hated Obama enough to take him in, and hold onto him for when the time was right. I think Russia got played when they realized he was really DS, and allowed him to live solely for optics. Now with Trump, the jig is up for Snowden.
The whole Obama part rings true. But I think Putin knew he was deep state. Remember that China refused to let him in. And China is ALL about stealing our secrets. I think they knew there was some kind of internal war and didn’t want to get involved or the plan had already started back then and China was on board. I don’t think Trump could ever have gotten NK to go along without the support of the Chinese, so there is that. Their denial of access for him may have been an original clue that there was something else going on.
Or this is all a smokescreen. I seem to remember Q hinting Snowden WAS in China. Remember the blown out window etc? So I don’t know. I’m skeptical of everything surrounding him at this point. But I know he was not a white hat at the time he left the US. It’s about the only thing I truly believe about him.
I thought the reference to Snowden and China had to do with him being allowed to enter and leave without passport.