"able to freely speak to journalists (and American politicians) at free will"
If you believe this is how it will be for Edward Snowden under the control of Putin and the FSB you are sadly mistaken.. or you are being highly disingenuous.
"Russia will try its darndest to be on its best behavior in sustaining that "asylum-giving, human-rights protecting" image it has recently gotten.
That was your statement man... once again, if you think Russia are an asylum-giving, human-rights protecting country you are simply a fool.
Well being under their control implies you will do what they say. True, he will be protected but in essence he is 'buying' this protection through submission not 'getting' it.