Russian Foreign Ministry says Russia’s ‘mature’ society can do without USAID

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website – September 19, 2012

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on September 19, 2012, addressing Russia’s expulsion of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leveling accusations regarding the influence of elections and political processes.

But the Ministry also decried any international aid: “It should also be noted that Russia has now joined the list of “new donors” and rejects the status of recipient of aid from all international organizations. As for the Russian society, it has become mature enough and does not need ‘external guidance’.”

At the same time, the Ministry offered to work with USAID in third countries, i.e., to kick USAID out of Russia and implicitly have USAID activities in other countries modified by involving Russia with the latter.

[link to English-language version of original statement not yet available]