U.S. Seeking Use of Funds to Aid Russian Democracy [View all]
Source: Nw York Times
U.S. Seeking Use of Funds to Aid Russian Democracy
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: March 15, 2012
MOSCOW — The Obama administration is pushing to free $50 million in long-stalled aid to promote democracy and civil society in Russia, an effort that comes amid a drumbeat of accusations that the United States is meddling in Russia’s internal politics.
The money, held up for years in Congress, represents some of the proceeds from an unusual foreign aid program in which tax dollars were invested in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia to help them develop into market economies.
For the most part, the investments turned out to be profitable and the money was reinvested. In recent years some of the proceeds were returned to the Treasury, while some money has been redirected to create foundations that provide foreign aid.
Plans to redirect the $50 million back to Russia have been in the works for more than a year. But in December, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin accused American officials of trying to stoke unrest in Russia, and conspiracy rumors about the money have swirled ever since.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/world/europe/to-aid-russian-democracy-us-seeking-use-of-funds.html?ref=europe
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