From the "Crazy stuff you can't make up Dept.":blink:
http://rt.com/politics/192212-russia-pulls-out-flex/
QuoteRussia halts participation in US student exchange program
The Russian government has decided to pull out of a major student exchange program with the US. The American side apparently violated the terms and conditions, with a Russian schoolboy not returning home, having been adopted by a gay couple.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented a note to the US Embassy in Moscow, saying that the country is canceling the largest US-Russian educational exchange program, FLEX 2015-2016. Within its framework, high school students from former USSR countries go to US for one academic year to live in an 'ordinary' middle-class American host family and to study in a high school.
"An unacceptable situation emerged as a result, when our [Russian] school students were in fact subjected to the legislature of American states, where minors were able to choose on their own and without their parents' permission their place for living or being adopted," the ministry's Special Representative for Human Rights Konstantin Dolgov said.
Russian Children's Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov points out that it is not clear if a Russian pupil who went to America would return to his mother back in Russia, as he had been 'adopted' by a gay couple.
Astakhov notes that what happened conflicts with the standards of the program. There were no legal grounds for the adoption.
US Ambassador John F. Tefft responded in a statement via the Moscow embassy's website that "We deeply regret this decision by the Russian government to end a program that for 21 years has built deep and strong connections between the people of Russia and the United States."
More than 8,000 Russian teenagers have participated in the 'Future Leaders Exchange' program (FLEX) since its launch in 1992. Now it is being halted for two years.
Meanwhile, the process of preparation for the preliminary tests that started on September 10 and was scheduled to end in the middle of October was underway all over Russia. Over 70,000 people from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and seven other countries of the former USSR participated in the competitive examination to enter FLEX. Financed by the US budget, the program was destined to introduce younger generations to American culture and values.
The American side of the story:
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-flex-exhcange-program-canceled/26615397.html
Quote[...]
The Washington-based American Councils for International Education (ACIE), which administers the FLEX program for the State Department, confirmed that a participant in the 2012-13 program did not return to Russia as scheduled upon completion of the exchange.
But the child was not taken into custody by the host family, which was not a same-sex couple, ACIE executive vice president David Patton told RFE/RL. The child completed the program without incident but went "off program" after the exchange was over, Patton said.
"It was a post-program issue, in which case we kind of lose jurisdiction," Patton told RFE/RL.
The student was placed with a "traditional" family setting, Patton said. He added that it "was our understanding" that the child befriended a same-sex couple while participating in the program.
Good.
Quote from: Syt on October 01, 2014, 11:34:18 AM
The American side of the story:
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-flex-exhcange-program-canceled/26615397.html
Quote[...]
The Washington-based American Councils for International Education (ACIE), which administers the FLEX program for the State Department, confirmed that a participant in the 2012-13 program did not return to Russia as scheduled upon completion of the exchange.
But the child was not taken into custody by the host family, which was not a same-sex couple, ACIE executive vice president David Patton told RFE/RL. The child completed the program without incident but went "off program" after the exchange was over, Patton said.
"It was a post-program issue, in which case we kind of lose jurisdiction," Patton told RFE/RL.
The student was placed with a "traditional" family setting, Patton said. He added that it "was our understanding" that the child befriended a same-sex couple while participating in the program.
I think some details are being left out. That doesn't make sense.
FLEX is a wonderful program, and very competitive. FLEX grads were some of the most mature and articulate people I met in Georgia, and always completely fluent in English. The Russkies just want an excuse to cut off cultural contacts.
Indeed. I've read a number of blogs done by FLEX students (good and entertaining language practice!), and I get the impression that many would likely end up as opponents/skeptics of the Putin regime. And I am sure the regime knows that.
The problem with the Putin regime is that it is just that. What happens when Putin retires? Granted he is only 60 or so, he could be Tsar for awhile.
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 01, 2014, 10:13:42 PM
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
I think the real question is which mechanism determines who succeeds Putin? Vicious no-holds barred in-fighting? Something a little more restrained and organized followed by purges? A fairly smooth Chinese politbureau transition?
A free and fair presidential election in fact! :P
Now if you mean inside the One Russia party...who ever has the most leverage, I presume.
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 01, 2014, 10:13:42 PM
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
Exactly. Medvedev has no cult of personality.
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 01, 2014, 10:13:42 PM
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
Medvedev is a nobody, he was a laughingstock during his "presidency". Kind of hard to transition from that to another strongman.
Ironically, his cult of personality, such as it was, seemed to appeal much more to the newer generation of tech savvy Russians...and is likely far more palatable to those inclined to be against Putinism.
Of course, that image doesn't sell to the rural, tea-Partyish, Russia needs a strong leader crowd.
Quote from: DGuller on October 01, 2014, 11:08:12 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 01, 2014, 10:13:42 PM
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
Medvedev is a nobody, he was a laughingstock during his "presidency". Kind of hard to transition from that to another strongman.
Russia did just that with "tandem" back to Putin. :D
But yway, after Putin there are any visible strongmen, yet. The Republican Party has the same problem. :P
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/752306
QuoteAt least 15 Russian children have not returned home after exchange programmes in US
MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. At least 15 Russian children who arrived in the United States under various exchange programme have not come back home to Russia, Russian children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said in an interview with the Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily published in its Thursday issue.
"For a number of years, we have been finding our children in the United States who were brought there under cultural, rehabilitation or tourist programmes and who stayed with American families," he said. "A child came to spend a summer in an American family and stayed there, with no documents and no official status. Today, there are at least 15 such children. We are working on these cases."
On Wednesday, Astakhov said that Russia had pulled out from the American sponsored student exchange programme for high school children, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), due to US failure to comply with obligations concerning children's return back to their country after the programme. "I confirm information about Russia's withdrawal from the Students Exchange Program with the United States," Astakhov wrote on his Twitter account. "One of the reasons is the US gross breach of obligations concerning an unconditional return of Russian students from their academic year [in the United States]."
According to the children's rights ombudsman, one of the Russian exchange students did not return home after unnamed US citizens registered guardianship rights for the teenager and kept him in the country. The teenage boy, according to the Russian children's rights ombudsman, was put under care of a homosexual family, despite the fact that he had a mother in Russia. This was the major reason for Russia's withdrawal from the FLEX.
Back in 2011, Russia suspended the activity of an organization that organized children's summer vacations in the United States to later offer these children for adoption.
"This is a gross violation, when a child goes to a foreign country for vacations or study but is actually adopted there. Guardianship under the U.S. laws is practically the same as adoption under Russia's," he said.
So, because there were incidents with 15 out of several 1000s of exchange kids over several years (he includes all kinds of exchanges, not only FLEX; so it's probably in the 5 digits), let's nick the whole programme. Yeah, sounds reasonable under the "if its saves but one child" premise. :P
Hell, I'm surprised there's not more exchange folk jumping ship and deciding to stay in the U.S., tbh. OTOH I guess we can be glad that Russia is so worried about illegal immigration to the U.S. that they do their part to keep the numbers down. :P
Exchange programmes are usually meant to be mutual. Many american kids studying rrussian these days?
Quote from: Tyr on October 02, 2014, 05:52:30 AM
Exchange programmes are usually meant to be mutual. Many american kids studying rrussian these days?
Russia was one part of the Soviet Union.
QuoteWhere do FLEX students come from?
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Russia
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Given that FLEX is paid for by the US, it would apparently behoove Russia if they want to bring Americans over. Besides, do you think no exchange happens between the student and host family?
FLEX doesn't send American kids to FSU. It is a one-way program.
If Russia doesn't want to play, that just means more students from other FSU countries get to go to the US. Russia's "punishment" of the program for "kidnapping" is kinda cut-off-own-nose-ish.
Good. They won't see the Big Board.
Quote from: grumbler on October 02, 2014, 06:21:05 AM
If Russia doesn't want to play, that just means more students from other FSU countries get to go to the US. Russia's "punishment" of the program for "kidnapping" is kinda cut-off-own-nose-ish.
Then it's in line with the rest of its policy towards the US :D
Quote from: derspiess on October 02, 2014, 08:57:13 AM
Quote from: grumbler on October 02, 2014, 06:21:05 AM
If Russia doesn't want to play, that just means more students from other FSU countries get to go to the US. Russia's "punishment" of the program for "kidnapping" is kinda cut-off-own-nose-ish.
Then it's in line with the rest of its policy towards the US :D
Not just the US. Russia's deals with China consist of Russia arguing strenuously for China to fuck Russia up the ass.
Never ceases to amaze me just how far into isolationism Putin seems to be willing to let Russia slip. He's gotta realize that isolationism is just going to leave him less margin for error in the event of any domestic crises/resource shortages. The less involved Russia is in world politics, the less he can blame domestic problems on foreign influence.
It's like he's putting the "kick me" sign on his own back.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 02, 2014, 10:04:16 AM
The less involved Russia is in world politics, the less he can blame domestic problems on foreign influence.
Your conclusion does not follow from your premise.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on October 02, 2014, 10:04:16 AM
Never ceases to amaze me just how far into isolationism Putin seems to be willing to let Russia slip. He's gotta realize that isolationism is just going to leave him less margin for error in the event of any domestic crises/resource shortages. The less involved Russia is in world politics, the less he can blame domestic problems on foreign influence.
It's like he's putting the "kick me" sign on his own back.
He wants to insulate Russia from foreign influences, but he still wants to play a role in international politics. Heck, half his blustering is an attempt to be counted as a world power who can run with the big boys.
Quote from: Jacob on October 01, 2014, 10:18:44 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 01, 2014, 10:13:42 PM
Medvedev is still around. I think Putin has plenty of fellow travelers and like-minded souls.
Of course, probay none of them has his cojones/hubris/gravitas.
I think the real question is which mechanism determines who succeeds Putin? Vicious no-holds barred in-fighting? Something a little more restrained and organized followed by purges? A fairly smooth Chinese politbureau transition?
Hmm, doubtful, but maybe another Russian civil war as they straighten things out and decide on which course they want to take as a nation. :hmm:
Apparently, one of the separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine just passed a law criminalising gay sex with 5 years of imprisonment.
Mark my words, gays in this "cycle" will be what Jews were in 1930s.
Quote from: Martinus on October 10, 2014, 12:28:42 AM
Apparently, one of the separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine just passed a law criminalising gay sex with 5 years of imprisonment.
Mark my words, gays in this "cycle" will be what Jews were in 1930s.
Or what the Gays were in 1930s.
Is there any surprise that they eagerly tow the Russian line?
Quote from: Valmy on October 10, 2014, 12:29:57 AM
Quote from: Martinus on October 10, 2014, 12:28:42 AM
Apparently, one of the separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine just passed a law criminalising gay sex with 5 years of imprisonment.
Mark my words, gays in this "cycle" will be what Jews were in 1930s.
Or what the Gays were in 1930s.
Is there any surprise that they eagerly tow the Russian line?
I don't think gays were as prominent in the nazi propaganda - they were more of an afterthought in the Holocaust. Right now it is different - gays play the central role in the Russian hate agenda.
The most disgusting part - at least from my personal perspective - are Polish right-wingers who hate Putin but say that "at least he is right about gays". This is an almost 100% repetition of what Polish right wingers used to say (and, perhaps not openly, still say) about Hitler and Jews.
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-united-states-flex-program-gay-student-/26626078.html
Seems the "stolen" teen is gay and afraid to go home.
QuoteGay Russian Student 'Afraid To Go Home'
WASHINGTON -- The lawyer for a Russian teenager who remained in the United States after completing a U.S.-Russian exchange program says her client is seeking political asylum due to fears of persecution in Russia because he is gay.
"Our client is afraid of returning to Russia because Russia persecutes gay people. That's what this is about," Susan Reed, an attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, told RFE/RL on October 7.
The boy lived with an American family and attended a U.S. high school in 2012-13 as part of the decades-old Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX).
But he did not return to his home country at the conclusion of the exchange as required by the program. His decision to remain in the United States emerged last week when Russia cited the case in its decision to suspend its participation in FLEX.
Moscow's subsequent explanations of the move, conveyed through state-controlled Russian media and Twitter, were rife with lurid insinuation that the boy had been manipulated by homosexual adults during his time in the United States.
Russia's child-protection ombudsman, Pavel Astakhov, told Russia's TASS state news agency that "a U.S. homosexual couple" had illegally established "guardianship" over a boy whose mother remains in Russia.
A TASS report based on sources in the Russian Embassy in Washington said that Russian diplomats clarified that in Michigan, where the boy attended high school, "like in many other states, it is not illegal to have sexual relations with a 16-year-old adolescent and is not considered the basis for criminal prosecution against those who seduce minors."
Reed told RFE/RL that the statements and reports from Russian officials seem to suggest "that there's some person or some people whose sexual orientation is relevant. And that's just not the case."
"There's no adoption, there's no untoward behavior," she said. "He met many caring adults, both gay and straight in the U.S., and he decided to stay here because he was afraid to go home."
Controversial Law
Critics say the Kremlin is fostering a menacing atmosphere for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Russia, where antipathy toward homosexuals continues to run deep, according to public opinion polls in recent years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last year enacted a controversial law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships" among minors. Western governments and rights groups decried it as discriminatory toward gays, while Putin and other Russian officials claimed the legislation was aimed at protecting children and encouraging Russia's birth rate.
Violent antigay militant groups in Russia have in recent years also embarked on a brutal guerrilla campaign in which they use the Internet to lure homosexuals into meeting up with the promise of a romantic encounter.
In Focus: War Against Gays
Instead, the victims are assaulted, humiliated and forced to disclose their personal information in videos that the attackers then distribute online.
Citing privacy concerns, Reed had previously refused to confirm publicly that he applied for political asylum based on his sexual orientation.
She said, however, that she decided to discuss the matter publicly after an October 4 "New York Times" report that cited an unidentified U.S. official as confirming that the boy had applied for political asylum based on his sexual orientation.
Reed called it "shocking" that a U.S. official would speak to the media about an asylum-seeker's case or the basis for the application.
"But I think it does at least allow me now to say that this is about our client, and our client's identity, and our client's fear of returning to Russia. It's not about anybody else," she told RFE/RL.
She declined to give further details about her client's asylum application.
Russia's pullout will open more places for students from Ukraine and other nations in the government-sponsored program, which provides scholarships to high school students from 10 former Soviet republics to study in the United States for a full academic year.
The U.S. State Department's top official for European and Eurasian affairs, Victoria Nuland, said she is saddened by Russia's decision "to deny their own citizens the opportunity to study in the United States" and hopes Russia's participation will be restored "in the not-too-distant future."
"In the meantime, we will have more than 100 extra slots for Ukrainians," she said in a speech to students in Kyiv on October 7.
Those slots will bring the number available to Ukrainians to more than 300.
The rest of the nearly 240 slots currently occupied by Russians will go to Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia, according to "The New York Times."
Quote from: Martinus on October 10, 2014, 12:31:52 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 10, 2014, 12:29:57 AM
Quote from: Martinus on October 10, 2014, 12:28:42 AM
Apparently, one of the separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine just passed a law criminalising gay sex with 5 years of imprisonment.
Mark my words, gays in this "cycle" will be what Jews were in 1930s.
Or what the Gays were in 1930s.
Is there any surprise that they eagerly tow the Russian line?
I don't think gays were as prominent in the nazi propaganda - they were more of an afterthought in the Holocaust. Right now it is different - gays play the central role in the Russian hate agenda.
The most disgusting part - at least from my personal perspective - are Polish right-wingers who hate Putin but say that "at least he is right about gays". This is an almost 100% repetition of what Polish right wingers used to say (and, perhaps not openly, still say) about Hitler and Jews.
I think you are right. I think the Russians are using gays as an example of the corrupting influence of the West. I think they might be able to get influence with right wing parties in Europe and beyond with that rhetoric.