I don’t think anybody chooses this, truthfully. Maybe he didn’t get the memo, or never had the chance.
Edit - had a thought, what if he was one of those 1,000+ Cubans who thought they would work as engineers in the Russian bases? They probably don’t speak any Russian and would have no idea.
He had the option to walk west with a white flag, but chose this instead.
I don’t think anybody chooses this, truthfully. Maybe he didn’t get the memo, or never had the chance.
Edit - had a thought, what if he was one of those 1,000+ Cubans who thought they would work as engineers in the Russian bases? They probably don’t speak any Russian and would have no idea.
You could get shot for that as well though. Russian leaders don’t take kindly to that.