Burgess COMMENTARY
I am very committed to the idea of freedom and democracy, but I am also very wary of foreign intervention that is being 'pushed' into a country.

The scale of USAID operations in Russia is quite modest at his point in time. In the few years after 1991 the involvement was much larger. Clearly the 'opposition' in Russia has probably been getting some funding benefit from the US which cannot be particularly welcome by the Russian government. It reminds me of the situation in the USA years ago when there was a huge popular movement against the Vietnam war, and some of this was supported by the Soviet Union. It also reminds me of the situation in Northern Ireland in the 1970s when the IRA was very active, and again getting support to some extent from the Soviet Union.

While I do not like what I understand is going on under Vladimir Putin in Russia ... I see Russion action against USAID more as a 'message' about foreign interference than anything else.
Peter Burgess

Russia orders US to shut its aid mission ... USAID asked to cease operations apparently over funding groups that seek to promote democracy and rule of law in Russia.

IMAGE The government of President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs [AFP]

Russia has ordered USAID to cease operations in the country, accusing the aid mission of being a front of the American government's effort to influence its local politics and the outcome of elections.

Moscow's move on Wednesday is seen as a slap in the face on the administration of President Barack Obama, who has been seeking to 'reset' bilateral ties with its former rival.

Obama, who is facing re-election in November, is being accused by his Republican rival Mitt Romney of being soft on Russia.

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.

'It's about attempts to influence political processes, including elections of various types, and institutions of civil society through the distribution of grants,' Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added Moscow had serious questions over the operations of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Russia's regions, especially in the North Caucasus where Russia is fighting an armed Islamist rebelion.

Victoria Nuland, the US state department spokeswoman, said Russia's decision will not affect American policy towards Russia.

'The American government remains 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 organizations,' Nuland said.

Clampdown on dissent

Steven Pifer, a former US ambassador to Ukraine who is now at the Brookings Institution think tank, said he believed the decision reflected some reluctance by the Russian government to see foreign support for pro-democracy efforts in the country.

'They see AID's efforts in Russia as being a prime funder of the NGOs that are concerned about their elections and concerned about the regression of democracy in Russia,' Pifer said.

He said the Russian government, basking in oil revenues, no longer believed it should be a recipient of foreign aid and may also be 'trying to make it more difficult' for the outside world to support pro-democracy NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, in Russia.

Over the last 20 years, the US has provided Russia with more than $2.6bn in aid. In 2011, Russia received $50m from the US through USAID.

Critics of President Vladimir Putin, who back in the Kremlin for a third term after serving as prime minister, said the move is part of a clampdown on dissent sponsored by the ex-KGB spy.

Moscow is tightening Internet controls and has raised fines for protesters, among others, sparking criticism among rights groups that it is trying to stifle opposition against Putin's 12-year rule after a winter of protests.

Source: Agencies