They may have been risking their necks for money. In any case from the Russian perspective, they betrayed their country, their oaths, and were executed.
Compared to those brave men, fighting against an objectively evil system, Pollard is a worthless scumbag, and he got off VERY lightly.
Pollard was also fighting against an objectively evil system and he did not get off lightly, nor have we. They attacked our principal city and our capital only two years ago.