The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will stop operating in Russia, the U.S. Department of State reported.

      "The United States recently received the Russian Government's decision to end USAID activities in the Russian Federation. We are extremely proud of what USAID has accomplished in Russia over the past two decades, and we will work with our partners and staff to responsibly end or transition USAID's programs," U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement on Tuesday.

      "While USAID's physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia and look forward to continuing our cooperation with Russian non-governmental organizations," it is also said in the statement.

      Nuland said the United States has always been concerned about the human rights situation in Russia, and added that it will keep reminding Russia of irregularities.

      It is still unclear why Russia refused to continue cooperating with USAID. Experts think that the termination of USAID activities in Russia may be explained in terms of hostile attitude of Russian authorities to organization that get funding from the U.S.

      USAID, which has its departments in over 100 countries, has been active in Russia over the past two decades. Its social programes usually targeted such problems as at-risk youth and pressing public health issues like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Besides, the agency supported some educational and scientific projects.