Civil Liberties

Russia Kicks Out USAID Workers

Kremlin apparently doesn't appreciate the irony that many of the workers were working towards a more honest and open government

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MOSCOW — After he spent most of the spring attacking the U.S. government for supporting civil society organizations in Russia, President Vladimir Putin is expelling the American aid agency USAID, the State Department announced Tuesday.

Victoria Nuland, the department's spokeswoman, issued a statement lamenting the decision. "We are extremely proud of what USAID has accomplished in Russia over the past two decades," she said.