Putin backs claim USAID tried to meddle in politics in Russia

President Vladimir Putin has backed Foreign Ministry assertions the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was trying to meddle in politics in Russia. Putin "shared a similar opinion" with the ministry on the role USAID had played in Russia, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Vedomosti newspaper Thursday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich confirmed Wednesday USAID would leave Russia from Oct. 1. The decision to shut down USAID was made "due to attempts of the agency to influence political processes, civil society institutions, and elections at various levels, through distribution of grants," Lukashevich said. USAID is America's primary official foreign aid agency. It opened its Moscow office in 1992, and it currently employs about 60 Russians and 13 U.S. citizens. During the APEC summit in early September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the decision. The US State Department said Wednesday Moscow's move was "regrettable." A State Department spokesperson said earlier the U.S. would shut the mission following Moscow's decision, but denied the agency had sought to influence domestic politics in the country.