Aug 06 2013
US-Russia Relations Deteriorate In Wake of Snowden Asylum and Anti-LGBT Propaganda Law
US-Russia relations have in general been tentative. In recent weeks, that relationship has once more appeared to devolve into hostility after the Russian government granted temporary asylum to the most wanted American of our time: NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden.
Ironically Russia is no haven for civil libertarians, with a penchant for spying on its own citizens. Snowden’s revelations have even prompted a reevaluation of how American firms like Google can adhere to government spying programs.
Relations with Russia have also seen a grassroots deterioration with the announcement this last week of a gay-rights based boycott of Russian vodka over the Putin government’s harsh stand on homosexuality.
In fact, local activists in Los Angeles have called upon city officials to sever “Sister-City” relations between LA and St. Petersberg over the issue.
GUEST: Fred Weir,Moscow-based correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor
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