USAid withdraws from Russia after Moscow decision to end agency's work

Source: Reuters

USAid withdraws from Russia after Moscow decision to end agency's work

US agency for international development to close office as analysts suspect growing hostility toward pro-democracy groups

Reuters in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 18 September 2012 14.04 EDT

The US agency for international development will close its office in Russia following a Russian decision to end the aid agency's work there, the US state department said on Tuesday.

Analysts said they believed the Russian decision partly reflected Moscow's hostility toward US-funded groups that seek to promote democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

"The United States recently received the Russian government's decision to end USAid activities in the Russian Federation," state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a written statement. She later told reporters that Russia had informed the United States of its decision last Wednesday.

"While USAid's physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia and look forward to continuing our co-operation with Russian non-governmental organisations," Nuland added.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/18/usaid-withdraws-from-russia