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 07 September 2008 01:44 BST

British Council row intensifies

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2008 20:15
Tensions between UK and Russia escalate as British Council row intensifies
The UK government has warned Russia its treatment of British Council employees is "completely unacceptable".

The Kremlin today stepped up its campaign against the cultural organisation by summoning its workers for interviews.

Moscow claims the British Council is guilty of breaching domestic tax laws and has ordered its offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to close.

But speaking today, UK foreign secretary David Miliband said the council's operations were "completely legal".

Mr Miliband's statement came after the British Council's St Petersburg office head, Stephen Kinnock – son of former Labour party leader and European commissioner Neil – was stopped by traffic police on suspicion of drink-driving.

The St Petersburg office is now understood to have been closed by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which is interviewing the council's Russian workers.

Russia has accused the British government of "provocation" by insisting the British Council's offices outside Moscow remain open.

The row has increased tensions further following the fatal poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in late 2006.

British detectives' requests for the extradition of main suspect Andrei Lugovoi were subsequently rejected, leading to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

Speaking today, Mr Miliband said the government had received reports of the "intimidation and harassment" of British Council officials.

"We take this very seriously indeed, [and] I'll be meeting the chief executive of the British Council this afternoon to discuss the situation," the foreign secretary said.

"Any intimidation or harassment is obviously completely unacceptable."

Mr Miliband continued: "The work of the British Council in Russia is completely legal under Russian and international law, and it is very important to defend the integrity of officials in the work they are doing.

"The only losers from any attack on the British Council are Russian citizens who want to use the British Council and the reputation of the Russian government itself.

"I very much hope there is still time for the Russian government to find a way to maintain the very important cultural work that goes on between these two countries."End of story


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