TODAY: Kremlin forces USAID office to close; Putin slams officials, Medvedev; Russia to forgive 90% of North Korea debt; YouTube could be blocked over extremist video; deputies resigning from business positions in wake of Gudkov’s ouster; Pussy Riot priest supporter defrocked; Sberbank sale raises $5.1bn.

At the Kremlin’s request, the United States will close its USAID office in Russia by the end of this month.  U.S. officials said they ‘regret’ the decision but are committed to finding new ways of promoting democracy without it.  The Moscow Times suggests that the move is a result of the Kremlin’s ‘reeling from unprecedented protests among the middle class since disputed State Duma elections in December’.  Vladimir Putin has slammed officials for failing to follow through on certain of his election promises, mainly in regional development and social services.  Some reports say that Putin’s ire was directed at Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.  Analysts doubt that revision of the repatriation programme will significantly affect migration.  Details of Russia’s debt deal with North Korea have emerged: the former has agreed to write off 90% of the $11 billion Soviet-era debt and make a $1 billion re-investment.