I don't think you can approach this subject in good faith and arrive at that conclusion.

His options at that point were pretty much limited to prison in the US or seeking protection from the Russian government. If you wouldn't have made the same choice as him in that situation, you can reasonably criticize his choice, you'll just have a hard time convincing anyone that you would've chosen prison in that situation.

There's also no evidence that his arrangement involves any work on behalf of the Russian government.

> His options at that point were pretty much limited to prison in the US or seeking protection from the Russian government

You're just justifying his decision, not refuting that he made it.