Media coverage of Russian withdrawal from FLEX program

Via LJB by email

Media coverage of Russian withdrawal from FLEX program
Tue, 10/07/2014 - 08:19 — Kaitlyn Chriswell - Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange

As the Alliance previously reported, the Russian government has cancelled its participation in the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) high school exchange program for the upcoming 2015-16 term. A round-up of various media coverage of this event is below:

October 5

• The Washington Post contextualizes Russian withdrawal from FLEX among Putin's other government policies: "Russia cancels student exchange program, and Russians suffer."

October 4

• The NY Times reports that a former Russian FLEX participant is currently seeking asylum in the U.S.: “Russia Cancels Exchange Program After a Student Seeks U.S. Asylum.”

October 3

• The Washington Post discusses the Russian decision in the context of U.S.-Russia diplomacy and political relations: “Russian cancellation of U.S. student exchange heightens chilly relationship.”

October 2

• According to The Moscow Times, 8,000 Russian students have visited the U.S. as part of the FLEX program, and 15 students from a combination of FLEX and other programs have stayed past their program end dates:  “Astakhov: At Least 15 Russian Children Flouted U.S. Exchange Rules.”

October 1

• The Moscow Times references the existing ban on the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens in a description of the recent withdrawal from the 2015-16 program: “'Same-Sex Adoption' Killed U.S.-Russian FLEX Exchange Program”
• RT cites an explanation for withdrawal from FLEX from the Russian ministry’s Special Representative for Human Rights: “Russia halts participation in US student exchange program.”
• Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty (RFERL) notes that according to American Councils for International Education, cancellation was due to a “post-program issue.” The article also documents students’ reactions to the cancellation: “Russians Voice Ire As Moscow Halts U.S. Student Exchange.”

Despite this, Russian Deputy Minister of Education, Veniamin Kagnakov, states Russia remains committed to student exchanges and will continue developing programs with countries in Europe and Asia, reports RIA Novosti.