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U.S. quits bilateral civil society group in rebuke to Russia
Source: Reuters
U.S. quits bilateral civil society group in rebuke to Russia
By Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW | Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:27pm EST
(Reuters) - The United States has quit a U.S.-Russian forum intended to promote civil society to protest Moscow's clampdown on civil rights and public activism, the State Department said on Friday.
The Civil Society Working Group was set up during a thaw in ties after Barack Obama became president, and the U.S. pullout reflects how strains have grown since Vladimir Putin started campaigning in 2011 to return to the Kremlin.
In the past year, Russia has restricted demonstrations after a wave of opposition protests that Putin accused Washington of encouraging, and has jailed or begun prosecuting several political activists.
Putin, who started a six-year term as president in May, signed a law last month that outlaws U.S.-funded organizations deemed to be involved in political activity, and Russia has ejected the U.S. Agency for International Development, which supported groups campaigning to improve civil institutions.
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By Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW | Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:27pm EST
(Reuters) - The United States has quit a U.S.-Russian forum intended to promote civil society to protest Moscow's clampdown on civil rights and public activism, the State Department said on Friday.
The Civil Society Working Group was set up during a thaw in ties after Barack Obama became president, and the U.S. pullout reflects how strains have grown since Vladimir Putin started campaigning in 2011 to return to the Kremlin.
In the past year, Russia has restricted demonstrations after a wave of opposition protests that Putin accused Washington of encouraging, and has jailed or begun prosecuting several political activists.
Putin, who started a six-year term as president in May, signed a law last month that outlaws U.S.-funded organizations deemed to be involved in political activity, and Russia has ejected the U.S. Agency for International Development, which supported groups campaigning to improve civil institutions.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/us-russia-usa-idUSBRE90O0SQ20130125
