December 28, 2002 - New York Times: Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers
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December 28, 2002 - New York Times: Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers
Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers
Read and comment on this story in the Costa Contra Times reprinted from the New York Times on the news that Russia said on Friday that it would not continue the agreement under which American Peace Corps volunteers work in this country.
The only thing new in this story which has not appeared previously in the Associated Press Report is that Vladimir P. Lukin, former Russian ambassador to the United States and now a deputy speaker of Parliament, criticized the Peace Corps in comments to the Interfax news agency, saying volunteers often had inadequate knowledge of the places where they worked.
But he also criticized the Russian government for ending the program abruptly. "If we are allies and partners, let us behave accordingly," he said. Read the story at:
Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers*
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
Russia bars future U.S. Peace Corps workers
NEW YORK TIMES
MOSCOW - Russia said Friday that it would not continue the agreement under which American Peace Corps volunteers work in this country.
In recent months, Russia has increasingly criticized American Peace Corps volunteers there, accused them of spying and refused to renew their visas.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander V. Yakovenko, made the announcement Friday, citing the changing economic and social tasks facing Russia.
He expressed thanks for Peace Corps efforts in Russia and said talks were being held with the United States "in forms of partnership more in line with today's needs."
The State Department confirmed that Russia was withdrawing from the Peace Corps agreement. More than 700 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Russia since 1992.
Earlier this year, Russia denied visa renewals to 30 volunteers, cutting their number in half. Most of them were teaching English in provincial schools. Ten volunteers were denied visa extensions last year.
Nikolai P. Patrushev, director of the FSB, the successor agency of the KGB, said earlier this month that among those denied visas were "persons who were engaged in gathering information about the sociopolitical and economic situation in Russian regions, about employees of organs of power and administration and about elections."
He singled out the director of the Peace Corps unit in the Russian Far East, who he said had violated a closed zone on the Russian-Chinese border. He also said a volunteer in Samara had been trying to establish close ties with local authorities and the directors of major defense enterprises in the region.
Vladimir P. Lukin, former Russian ambassador to the United States and now a deputy speaker of Parliament, criticized the Peace Corps in comments to the Interfax news agency, saying volunteers often had inadequate knowledge of the places where they worked.
But he also criticized the Russian government for ending the program abruptly.
"If we are allies and partners, let us behave accordingly," he said.
Background on the Peace Corps in Russia
Read more background on the Peace Corps in Russia at:
Peace Corps disappointed with Russian decision
Exclusive: Peace Corps disappointed with Russian decision 27 December 2002
Moscow to abandon Peace Corps agreement
Pravda: Moscow informs Washington of intention to abandon Peace Corps agreement 27 December 2002
Associated Press: Russia Rejects U.S. Peace Corps 27 December 2002
US Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia
U.S. Ready to Remove Peace Corps From Russia, Citing Disputes 17 December 2002
Russian Spy claims "groundless" says US
Russian claims about Peace Corps volunteers "groundless" says US Embassy 16 December 2002
KGB accuses PCVs of "suspicious activities"
Update: KGB Chief says PCVs involved in suspicious activities 15 December 2002
KGB chief accuses Peace Corps workers of spying in Russia 15 December 2002
KGB refuses visas to religious workers
Russia refuses visas to religious workers 2 November 2002
Russia is cooling to the Peace Corps
Time Magazine says Russia "Cooling To the Corps" 23 August 2002
Radio Free Europe makes the Case for the Peace Corps in Russia 18 August 2002
Secretary of State Powell makes no progress on Peace Corps visas with Russian foreign minister 14 August 2002
Russia refuses visas for Peace Corps Volunteers
Peace Corps Moscow chief denies allegations of non-professionalism 13 August 2002
Russia Ousting Dozens Of Peace Corps Volunteers 12 August 2002
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Sergey Belonin From Peace Corps office in Vladivostok would like to get in touch with all RPCVs who remember him.Please e-mail to tomas20232hotmail.com
Sergey Belonin from the Peace Corps office in Vladivostok Russia would like to get in touch with all RPCVs from Russia who still remember him.
I live in New York USA. My e-mail address is tomas2023@hotmail.com My phone is 718-787-1736