Lukashevich: US financing for nonprofit organizations in Russia

The US intention to continue to finance some nonprofit organizations in Russia is open interference in the country's internal affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Saturday. "We consider the statement of official representative of the Department of State Victoria Nuland that the United States intends to continue financing of some NPOs in Russia through intermediaries in third countries bypassing the Russian legislation as uncovered interference in our internal affairs," the diplomat said. In his words, in fact the question is one of direct instigation of known non-governmental and public structures to violate the laws relating to activities of nonprofit organizations in the Russian Federation's territory. On Thursday, Nuland during a press briefing admitted that the United States continued to provide support for nongovernmental organizations in Russian despite the restrictions imposed by Moscow. The Russian side imposed serious restrictions that have reflected on the capability for direct financing in Russia, in particular, taking the decision to stop the activities of the Agency for International Development, she said. However, the United States as before provides funds for the organizations that want to work with the U.S. side, realizing that they must report about their work to the government, she added. Nuland said the United States for the purpose used the mechanisms outside Russia. She said she would not give details how they did it, as it jeopardized the programme and the organizations which received American money. Nuland made the statement in connection with the launched checks of nonprofit organizations in Russia.