In ENGLISH | РУС/УКР
Sign in | Register
Mobile version | Subscription | RSS Archive
KyivPost

Russia accuses USAID of trying to sway elections

Print version
Sept. 19, 2012, 1:32 p.m. | Russia and former Soviet Union — by Associated Press

Denise Herbol (C-R), deputy director of the United States Agency for International Development – Iraq (USAID), and Rear Adm. Gregory Smith (L), director of the Multi-National Force-Iraq's Communications Division hold a joint press conference at the heavily fortified Green Zone area in Baghdad, 13 January 2008.
© AFP

SEE ALSO

MOSCOW — Russia has explained its decision to put an end to the U.S. Agency for International Development's work in Russia by saying the U.S. government agency was using its money to influence elections.

The State Department announced Russia's decision on Tuesday, Sept.18.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Wednesday that through its grants, USAID was attempting "to influence ... political processes, including elections on various levels, and institutions of civil society."

Nearly 60 percent of the agency's $50 million annual budget went toward the promotion of democracy and civil society in Russia. Some of this money went to support Russia's only independent election monitoring group, which fielded thousands of observers in last winter's parliamentary and presidential elections and compiled reports of vote fraud nationwide.

READ MORE IN SECTION
The Kyiv Post is hosting comments to foster lively debate. Criticism is fine, but stick to the issues. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks will be removed from the site. If you think that a posted comment violates these standards, please flag it and alert us. We will take steps to block violators.
Advertising link

KyivPost

© 1995–2012 Public Media

Web links to Kyiv Post material are allowed provided that they contain a URL hyperlink to the www.kyivpost.com material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. Otherwise, all materials contained on this site are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of Public Media at news@kyivpost.com
All information of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency placed on this web site is designed for internal use only. Its reproduction or distribution in any form is prohibited without a written permission of Interfax-Ukraine.