Russian Cultural Center
Российский центр науки и культуры в Вашингтоне | |
Established | December 10, 1999 |
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Location | 1825 Phelps Place NW, Washington, D.C. |
Coordinates | 38°54′55″N 77°02′55″W / 38.9154°N 77.0485°W |
Owner | Government of Russia |
Public transit access | Dupont Circle |
Website | rccusa |
The Russian Cultural Center (
The building was a private residence before it was purchased by the
Since at least 2001, the center has organized all-expenses-paid cultural exchange trips to Russia for young Americans.[3] The trips included lodging at luxury hotels and meetings with Russian officials.[1][3]
Controversies
In October 2013, the center's director, Yury Zaitsev (Russian: Юрий Зайцев), was investigated by the FBI for allegedly using the center's cultural exchange program to recruit young Americans as Russian spies.[1][3] The FBI interviewed Americans sent by Zaitsev and warned them they were being targeted for recruitment.[1][3] Zaitsev publicly denied the allegations before quietly leaving the country.[1]
Zaitsev's replacement, Oleg Zhiganov (Russian: Олег Жиганов), was suspected of being a Russian spy and expelled from the U.S. as part of the expulsions of Russian diplomats in March 2018 in retaliation for the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Meyer, Josh (July 28, 2018). "Accused Russian agent met with suspected Kremlin spy". Politico. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Tamkin, Emily; Hickey, C.K. (July 20, 2017). "A Guide to Russia's Diplomatic Properties in Washington". Foreign Policy. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Redden, Molly (October 23, 2013). "FBI Probing Whether Russia Used Cultural Junkets to Recruit American Intelligence Assets". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
External links