The United States said Tuesday it is ending the U.S. Agency for International Development’s operations in Russia after a Kremlin demand that the aid organization leave the country, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama’s policy of “resetting” relations between Washington and Moscow.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that Russia sent a letter last week saying it didn’t need Washington’s help anymore. She didn’t cite a political reason for the closure, but President Vladimir Putin has long complained about US democracy and human rights promotion efforts.

The aid agency has worked in Russia since the Soviet Union’s collapse 20 years ago, promoting what it says is “a more open and innovative society and a strengthened partnership between Russia and the United States” and spending some $2.7 billion. It planned $50 million in programs this year.

“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,” Nuland said.

Nuland didn’t criticize Russia for its action. But she said the money went to a wide variety of initiatives, such as fighting AIDS and tuberculosis, helping orphans and victims of trafficking, and improving the protection of wildlife and the environment. About a third of annual funds go to governance, human rights and democracy programs, she said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

Nuland didn’t say when USAID would pull out completely from Russia. While no new contracting is taking place, officials want to “wind these programs down responsibly.” That includes looking for ways to continue working with Russian nongovernmental organizations to safeguard programs that “a lot of Russians are dependent on,” she said.

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Editor's Note: Obama foreign policy: Creating dependency around the globe...what a slap in the face for Mr. Obama, even a former Communist State doesn't want his government handouts...


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