First, let's accept the conceit (for now) that nation-states have both the desire and the capability to do this. In that context, it's very easy to imagine way

First, let's accept the conceit (for now) that nation-states have both the desire and the capability to do this. In that context, it's very easy to imagine ways to frame the death such that it would prevent him from seeming a martyr. Died in a car accident, strangled during auto-erotic asphyxiation, shot in a drug deal gone bad, depression-related suicide, etc. The right context could be used to discredit him further, in addition to silencing any potential impact by giving speeches or serving as a public figure for a privacy-focused organization in the future (for example). Of course, you could then respond that it would still spawn conspiracy theories, but the doubt planted would certainly blunt the kind of wide-spread movement (or public outrage) that might otherwise sprout from a bald-faced assassination. Realistically, conspiracy theories will pop up in any situation in which Snowden doesn't die of old age at 95, so this isn't much of a dissuading factor for our hypothetical villains. We know that state-sponsored assassination is possible, based on the basically-obvious case of Litvinenko. Crucially, we can also never know of any attempt which was successfully reframed, which makes it impossible to determine whether or not these "accidents" exist; there are many, many deaths which have been nominated as candidates, but no conclusive evidence of those that I'm aware of. So, rather than "would the people in power allow it", I think the following 3 questions are more pertinent: 1 - Are nation-states competent enough to plausibly disguise the attempt? 2 - Which nation-states conduct this kind of behavior? 3 - Who in the intersection of Q1 and Q2 cares enough about Snowden to do it?