This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7307114.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Brothers face Russia spy charges Brothers face Russia spy charges
(about 3 hours later)
Russian security officials say they have arrested and charged two brothers with links to British interests.Russian security officials say they have arrested and charged two brothers with links to British interests.
Ilya Zaslavsky is a manager at the TNK-BP oil joint venture, his brother Alexander head of the British Council's Moscow Alumni club. Ilya Zaslavsky is a manager at the TNK-BP oil joint venture, his brother Alexander is the head of the British Council's Moscow Alumni club.
The two, who have joint US and Russian citizenship, were gathering classified data for foreign firms, the FSB said.The two, who have joint US and Russian citizenship, were gathering classified data for foreign firms, the FSB said.
The arrests are the latest in a series of incidents which has caused serious frictions between Russia and the UK.The arrests are the latest in a series of incidents which has caused serious frictions between Russia and the UK.
British Council work was curtailed last year in a row over the death of ex-security agent Alexander Litvinenko.British Council work was curtailed last year in a row over the death of ex-security agent Alexander Litvinenko.
'Material proof''Material proof'
The Moscow offices of the British oil giant were raided by the authorities on Wednesday.The Moscow offices of the British oil giant were raided by the authorities on Wednesday.
UK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses British request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDec: Russia orders British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices17 Jan: Both offices suspend work UK-Russia spy warWhy Britain withholds evidenceKremlin behind charges?UK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses British request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDec: Russia orders British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices17 Jan: Both offices suspend work UK-Russia spy warWhy Britain withholds evidenceKremlin behind charges?
Russia's security agency, the FSB, has confirmed that the raids were related to the Zaslavsky case.Russia's security agency, the FSB, has confirmed that the raids were related to the Zaslavsky case.
"During the raid, material proof confirming the industrial espionage was found and confiscated," it said in a statement."During the raid, material proof confirming the industrial espionage was found and confiscated," it said in a statement.
This included business cards of foreign military agencies and the CIA, it said.This included business cards of foreign military agencies and the CIA, it said.
But analysts say the objective of the authorities is much broader than prosecuting a case of industrial espionage, as they attempt to re-assert control over an oil industry, much of which was sold off to foreign investors in the 1990s.But analysts say the objective of the authorities is much broader than prosecuting a case of industrial espionage, as they attempt to re-assert control over an oil industry, much of which was sold off to foreign investors in the 1990s.
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says TNK-BP, which is the UK's largest joint venture in Russia and Russia's third-largest oil company, is the last in the industry still beyond the Kremlin's control, but perhaps for not much longer.The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says TNK-BP, which is the UK's largest joint venture in Russia and Russia's third-largest oil company, is the last in the industry still beyond the Kremlin's control, but perhaps for not much longer.
Last year state gas giant Gazprom bought a majority stake in the vast Kovykta field from TNK-BP, and is rumoured to be now seeking to buy a stake in the joint venture itself.Last year state gas giant Gazprom bought a majority stake in the vast Kovykta field from TNK-BP, and is rumoured to be now seeking to buy a stake in the joint venture itself.
The row is the latest development in ongoing tensions between London and Moscow that began with the murder of Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, in London in November 2006.The row is the latest development in ongoing tensions between London and Moscow that began with the murder of Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, in London in November 2006.
The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko - he died after being given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210.The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko - he died after being given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210.
Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, now a member of the Russian parliament, so Britain expelled four Russian diplomats - Moscow then expelled four British diplomats.Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, now a member of the Russian parliament, so Britain expelled four Russian diplomats - Moscow then expelled four British diplomats.