Most these guys, Snowden included, have an insurance file that contains all the dirtiest bits of information seeded out to the web. If Snowden is offed, instructions on how to open this file will go out, and ALL the secrets, even the dark ones that he was never going to release anyway, get out.
If he releases everything now, then there’s no value in keeping him alive for anyone anymore. He’s in Russia, under Putin’s watchful eye. The only currency he has right now are the secrets. The second he spends that currency , he’s of no value to Putin and best case scenario, he gets put on a plane to the US. Worst case, he simply vanishes or takes a cup of laced tea. That’s kinda what happens to Putin’s enemies.
