The US government wanted Snowden bad, going as far as to forcing the Bolivian President's jet to land because they thought Snowden might have been on it. A few

The US government wanted Snowden bad, going as far as to forcing the Bolivian President's jet to land because they thought Snowden might have been on it. A few European countries wouldn't let the plane traverse their airspace, presumably because of pressure being put on them by the US. Russia giving Snowden refugee status was a big middle finger to the West and the US in particular. It's just a bonus that every time he tweets he makes the US look bad.