Michele Kelemen

Credit Doby / NPR

A former NPR Moscow bureau chief, Michele Kelemen now covers the State Department and Washington's diplomatic corps. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

In her latest beat, Kelemen has been traveling with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from Asia to the Middle East and Europe, tracking the Obama administration's broad foreign policy agenda. She also followed the two previous Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell and was part of the NPR team that won the 2007 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for coverage of the war in Iraq.

As NPR's Moscow bureau chief, Kelemen chronicled the end of the Yeltsin era and Vladimir Putin's consolidation of power. She recounted the terrible toll of the latest war in Chechnya and the tragedy of the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk. She also brought to listeners a lighter side of Russia, with stories about modern day Russian literature and sports.

Kelemen came to NPR in September 1998, after eight years working for the Voice of America. There, she learned the ropes as a news writer, newscaster and show host.

Michele earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Russian and East European Affairs and International Economics.

Russian Accuses Voice Of America Of Fake Interview

Credit Voice of America

Voice of America was criticized after the veracity of its interview with a Russian anti-corruption activist was questioned. In this photo provided by the network, a control room is seen during a Russian-language Web show.

By Michele Kelemen

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NPR's Michele Kelemen is a former employee of Voice of America.

Russian anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny has been the victim of many dirty tricks by pro-Kremlin media.

But when the U.S. government-funded Voice of America published an online interview that had him criticizing other Russian opposition figures, Navalny quickly tweeted that the interview was a fake.

"It seems the VOA has gone nuts," he wrote to his Twitter followers.

2:27 am

Tue February 14, 2012

White House Welcomes Chinese Official Xi Jinping

By Michele Kelemen

China's Vice President Xi Jinping visits the White House Tuesday. While in Washington, Xi will discuss a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues. He'll also travel to Iowa and California. Xi is widely expected to become China's next president.

Middle East

3:52 pm

Fri February 10, 2012

With Death Toll Soaring, What's Next In Aid To Syria?

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Credit Handout / Reuters/Landov

Bodies of what activists say are victims of shelling by the Syrian army in a Sunni Muslim district in the central city of Homs, on Feb. 8.

Credit Handout / Reuters/Landov

Demonstrators take part in a protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad in the Syrian city of Jisr al-Shughour, while holding olive branches to show support for the city of Homs, Feb. 9.

Credit Mustafa Ozer / AFP/Getty Images

A view of a Turkish Red Crescent camp in the Yayladagi district of Hatay near the Syrian border, shown in June 2011. Currently, Turkey has some 12,000 refugees from Syria.

By Michele Kelemen

As the death toll mounts in Syria, the U.S. and its partners have been scrambling to come up with new diplomatic initiatives to persuade Syrian President Bashar Assad to silence his army's guns and give up power.

Last week, Russia and China blocked a U.N. resolution that would have supported the Arab League peace proposals. Since then, the violence has only intensified.

Like other international diplomats, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is still reeling from Russia and China's refusal to back the Arab League proposal's to solve the crisis in Syria.

10:01 pm

Wed February 8, 2012

What Do Democracy Promoters Actually Do?

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Credit Mohammed Asad / AP

Members of the Egyptian military stand guard as officials raid the offices of a nongovernmental organization in Cairo. Egyptian investigating judges referred international NGO workers to trial for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds, security officials said.

Credit Courtesy of the National Democratic Institute

A voter checks a sample ballot outside a polling station during the second round of municipal elections in Egypt. The National Democratic Institute says it's helped mobilize volunteer and make parties aware of citizens' needs in Egypt without promoting a particular ideology.

By Michele Kelemen

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American lawmakers are furious with a mounting diplomatic crisis in Egypt, where dozens of nongovernmental workers, including 19 Americans, could face trial.

The United States says Egypt needs to let pro-democracy groups continue their work to help the country's transition, but Egypt accuses them of operating illegally.

The work of democracy promotion groups have raised suspicions in many countries, but Lorne Craner, who runs the International Republican Institute, says he's never seen anything like what's going on now in Egypt.

2:40 pm

Mon February 6, 2012

U.S. Aid At Risk As Egypt Targets Democracy Groups

Credit Mohammed Asad / AP

Egyptian police raid a non-governmental organization office in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 29, 2011. Egyptian investigating judges on Sunday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds, security officials said.

By Michele Kelemen

In a rapidly escalating dispute between allies, 43 people, including 19 Americans, are to face trial in Egypt for their work in promoting democracy. They include the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Sam LaHood was running the Cairo office of the International Republican Institute. The case against him and others has caused a furious reaction in Washington — with lawmakers threatening to hold up U.S. aid to Egypt.

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10:01 pm

Sun February 19, 2012