In trying to help a US Presidential candidate achieve control of the state's surveillance and extra-judicial killing programs while housing the man who is seen as the global face of criticism of these programs,  Russia seems to have  a clear conflict of interest here. 

The Stasi similarly got away with what they did by silencing all critics.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/12/bilderberg-2016-dresden-press-conference-meeting-silence

The Snowden asylum seekers have been of great service in what's become a global struggle against tyranny.