December 16, 2002 - Interfax: Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" says US Embassy

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2002: 12 December 2002 Peace Corps Headlines: December 16, 2002 - Interfax: Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" says US Embassy

By Admin1 (admin) on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 4:33 pm: Edit Post

Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" says US Embassy





Read and comment on this story from Interfax that a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow dismissed Russian allegations that volunteers of the U.S. Peace Corps had been spying in Russia as "completely groundless." The spokesman added that "It is regrettable that the FSB Director has made these baseless comments about an organization dedicated to improving ties between Russia and the United States at the grassroots level."

This denial comes in response to a story published in the Russian Press on December 15 in which Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Federal Security Service (previously known as the KGB), accused Peace Corps volunteers of attempting to gather information about Russian officials. "Some of them were engaged in collecting information about the sociopolitical and economic situation in Russian regions, about government employees and administrators and the course of elections," Patrushev said.

Read the story at:


Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" - USA*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" - USA

MOSCOW. Dec 16 (Interfax) - The United States on Monday dismissed Russian allegations that volunteers of the U.S. organization Peace Corps had been spying in Russia as "completely groundless."

On Sunday, the director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Nikolai Patrushev, said Russia had refused to renew entry visas for 30 Peace Corps volunteers.

"Among them are persons who were collecting information on the social, political and economic situation in Russian regions, on officials of governmental bodies and departments, on the course of elections and so on," Patrushev told reporters.

"Mr. Patrushev's allegations that Peace Corps volunteers have engaged in activities incompatible with their work as volunteers here are completely groundless," a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow told Interfax.

"The Peace Corps is an international volunteer service organization, coordinated through the Federal Ministry of Education, that provides teachers of English and Business Education to communities throughout the Russian Federation.

In addition to providing technical assistance, one of the goals of Peace Corps service is to facilitate cross-cultural exchange and understanding between citizens of the United States and Russia. Russian educational institutions have been hosting Peace Corps Volunteers successfully since 1992.

It is regrettable that the FSB Director has made these baseless comments about an organization dedicated to improving ties between Russia and the United States at the grassroots level." [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG DIP US] as aw <>
Background on the Peace Corps in Russia



The Washington Post reported on August 12 that the Russian government had "moved to kick out dozens of Peace Corps workers in a decision that could severely hinder the program's operations here and prevent new volunteers from coming."

The Associated Press reported on August 13 that the US Peace Corps "has canceled plans to send a new batch of volunteers to Russia this year, because the government is refusing, without explanation, to issue visas."

Read PCOL's ongoing coverage of the Peace Corps in Russia at:

Will the Peace Corps be leaving Russia?



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Russia; Intelligence Issues

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