The Russian government has ordered the British Council to close down its two offices outside Moscow by the beginning of January.
The Russian government has ordered the British Council to close down its two 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 UK government and the council said its operations in Russia were legal.
The UK government and the council said its operations in Russia were legal.
A Russian official said the move was a retaliatory measure in the ongoing dispute over the London murder of Russian exile Alexander Litvinenko.
Russian officials have said the move was a retaliatory measure in the ongoing dispute over the London murder of Russian exile Alexander Litvinenko.
Relations between the UK and Russia have worsened since the former KGB agent was murdered in November 2006.
Relations between the UK and Russia have worsened since the former KGB agent was murdered in November 2006.
In July, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite a key suspect in the murder.
In July, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite a key suspect in the murder.
Russia followed by expelling four British diplomats.
Russia followed by expelling four British diplomats.
NGOs curbed
NGOs curbed
Russian foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the council had violated tax regulations, among other laws.
Russian foreign ministry officials said the British Council had violated Russian laws, including tax regulations.
He said the expulsion of the Russian diplomats had disrupted the preparation of a bilateral agreement to govern the operation of cultural centres in both countries.
But in an interview with the BBC, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explicitly linked the order to Britain's expulsion of Russian diplomats in July.
Both the UK Foreign Office and the British Council said the council was fully compliant with tax laws and operates on the basis of an agreement signed in the 1990s.
He said Russia had been left with no choice but to retaliate over the affair.
A British Council spokeswoman said it had already closed nine regional offices three months ago, transferring operations to Russian partners.
Both the British Council and the UK Foreign Office said the council was fully compliant with Russian tax laws and operates on the basis of an agreement signed in the 1990s.
The council announced three months ago that it was closing nine regional offices by the end of the year and transferring operations to Russian partners.
Those closures leave the headquarters in Moscow, plus offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
Those closures leave the headquarters in Moscow, plus offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
The spokeswoman said the council intends to continue its operations in Russia at the three remaining offices.
A British Council spokeswoman told the BBC that the council intends to continue its operations in Russia at the three remaining offices.
The council is a not-for-profit charity funded by the British government. Its stated purpose is to promote British culture and education and build relationships between people in the UK and other countries.
The council is a registered charity funded by the British government. Its stated purpose is to promote British culture and education and build relationships between people in the UK and other countries.
Moscow has acted to curb NGOs in recent years, accusing foreign governments of using them for political purposes.
Moscow has acted to curb NGOs in recent years, accusing foreign governments of using them for political purposes.
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Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Are you in Russia? Please send your comments by using the form below:
