Obama cancels talks with Putin ahead of G-20 summit
By Jessica Yellin and Tom Cohen, CNN
updated 10:14 AM EDT, Wed August 7, 2013
Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama has canceled a visit to Moscow next month for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but will attend a G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, the White House announced Wednesday.
The move follows Russia's decision to grant asylum to classified leaker Edward Snowden, who had been holed up for weeks in the international transit zone of Moscow's airport since fleeing the United States for Hong Kong and then Russia.
Obama confirmed Tuesday night that he still plans to attend the G-20 summit in early September, despite calls from some lawmakers for the U.S. to boycott the gathering.
However, the White House also has said it was reconsidering the "utility" of separate talks with Putin in Moscow that were to take place before the G-20 gathering.
Obama confirmed Tuesday night that he still plans to attend the G-20 summit in early September, despite calls from some lawmakers for the U.S. to boycott the gathering.
However, the White House also has said it was reconsidering the "utility" of separate talks with Putin in Moscow that were to take place before the G-20 gathering.
"Following a careful review begun in July, we have reached the conclusion that there is not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda with Russia to hold a U.S.-Russia Summit in early September," a White House statement said.
In particular, the statement cited "Russia's disappointing decision to grant Edward Snowden temporary asylum" as a factor.
"Given our lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society in the last twelve months, we have informed the Russian government that we believe it would be more constructive to postpone the summit until we have more results from our shared agenda," the statement said.
Obama looked forward to the G-20 summit on September 5-6, the White House said, and a separate statement announced the president would visit Sweden before the summit instead of going to Moscow.
On NBC's "Tonight Show" Tuesday night, Obama said he was disappointed Russia had granted asylum to the former government contractor.
Russia's leaders have a proclivity for slipping into a Cold War mindset, Obama said, adding that it is essential that cooperation between the two nations continues.
Paintings Of Vladimir Putin In Lingerie Seized From Russia's Museum Of Power
A visitor looks at an artwork representing Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev by Russian artist Konstantin Altunin during the 'Leaders' exhibition in the central St. Petersburg on August 21, 2013. (OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)
By Liza Dobkina Posted: 08/27/2013 1:55 pm EDT
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Police seized a painting of Russia's president and prime minister in women's underwear from a gallery in St Petersburg, saying the satirical display had broken unspecified laws.
The officers also removed a picture of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, his torso covered in tattoos, and two others poking fun at lawmakers who have backed legislation banning so-called gay propaganda, gallery staff said.
The police service said it had taken paintings from the "Museum of Power" gallery - based in two rooms of a flat - late on Monday after receiving reports they were illegal.
It gave no further detail but Russia does have a law against insulting authorities - an offence that carries a maximum one-year prison term.
One painting showed President Vladimir Putin wearing a tight-fitting slip and brushing the hair of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is wearing knickers and a bra.
St Petersburg deputy Vitaly Mironov, whose face was combined with the gay rights movement's rainbow flag in one of the paintings, told Reuters the images were inappropriate and "of a distinctly pornographic character".
St Petersburg, which next week hosts world leaders at a G20 summit, was one of the first Russian cities to introduce a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda".
The Russian parliament has also adopted similar legislation, prompting protests from abroad and calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics which Russia will host in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February.
Gallery owner Alexander Donskoy said the officers had also shut down his establishment and gave him no explanation for the removal of paintings from the exhibition, titled 'Leaders'.
"This is an (illegal) seizure," he told Reuters. "We have been given no formal documents banning us from operating and no receipt confirming our petty cash was seized."
(Reporting By Liza Dobkina, Writing by Alexei Anishchuk; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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