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Russia suspends British Council Russia to limit British Council
(30 minutes later)
The Russian government has ordered the British Council to close down virtually its entire operation in Russia by the beginning of January. The Russian government has ordered the British Council to close down its offices outside Moscow by the beginning of January.
The Russian foreign ministry said the council, which promotes British culture abroad, was operating illegally.The Russian foreign ministry said the council, which promotes British culture abroad, was operating illegally.
The British Council has said its operations in Russia are not illegal. The council has said its operations in Russia are within the law.
Moscow said a bilateral agreement to regulate the council's activities was not signed after four Russian diplomats were expelled from the UK in July. A Russian official said the move was in retaliation for the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from the UK in July as part of a dispute.
Foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin also said the council had violated tax regulations.
But the council says it is fully compliant with all tax laws and operates on the basis of an agreement signed in the 1990s.