THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
CALLS FOR AN END TO
USAID IN RUSSIA
VLADIMIR PUTIN
GIVES THE HOOK TO THE
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
What are we talking about, and what amounts of money? According to the Washington Post: "USAID, which has been working in Russia since shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, had budgeted $49.47 million for Russian programs for fiscal 2012, with 59 percent of that directed for programs supporting democracy and civil society, 37 percent designated for health projects and 4 percent for environmental programs." So, not huge amounts, but demoralizing for the recipients in tough times for "supporting democracy." At the government-to-government level, this is the judgment call of the Post: "No matter who wins the presidential election in November, the expulsion is likely to make relations with Russia even less of a priority for Washington than it has been in recent years, which might or might not suit Putin’s needs."
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