Russia Says USAID Sought to Sway Elections

Can't have that sort of thing

Moscow accused the United States on Wednesday of using its aid mission in Russia to meddle in politics and influence 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 blunt statement explaining Moscow's decision, announced by Washington on Tuesday, to give the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) until Oct. 1 to cease operations in Russia.

Kremlin critics said the move was intended to cut funding to organisations Putin sees as a threat following his return as president in May after four years as prime minister, and called it part of a crackdown on dissent.