US and Russia practice Cold War postures

Published on 20/09/2012 00:00

Russia has accused the United States of using its aid mission in Moscow to influence Russian elections, a charge likely to push relations between the former Cold War foes to a new low after Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.

The Russian foreign ministry issued a statement yesterday explaining Moscow’s decision, announced by Washington on Tuesday, to give the US Agency for International Development until 1 October to cease operations in Russia.

The action appears intended to cut funding to organisations that Mr Putin sees as a threat following his return as president in May after four years as prime minister, and extends what the opposition sees as a crackdown on pro-democracy groups.

“It’s about attempts to influence political processes and institutions of civil society though the distribution of grants,”
the foreign ministry statement said.