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/7186718.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Russia summons UK envoy over row Russia summons UK envoy over row
(20 minutes later)
The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador amid an escalating row over the reopening of two British Council offices.The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador amid an escalating row over the reopening of two British Council offices.
The council's branches reopened on Monday despite a government ban.The council's branches reopened on Monday despite a government ban.
Russia called the move a "provocation" and said it would not issue new visas to British Council staff.Russia called the move a "provocation" and said it would not issue new visas to British Council staff.
The offices were ordered to shut last month in the latest clash over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.The offices were ordered to shut last month in the latest clash over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.
The branches that reopened are in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office. The branches that reopened after the New Year holiday are in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office.
'Inflaming tensions''Inflaming tensions'
A statement on the Russian foreign ministry's website said: "Russia views such actions as an intentional provocation aimed at inflaming tensions in Russian-British relations.A statement on the Russian foreign ministry's website said: "Russia views such actions as an intentional provocation aimed at inflaming tensions in Russian-British relations.
UK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses UK request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDecember: Russia tells British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices Russia's new frontUK-Russia spy warUK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses UK request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDecember: Russia tells British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices Russia's new frontUK-Russia spy war
"The Russian side will not issue visas to new employees sent to work in the [British] consular offices of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to carry out British Council work.""The Russian side will not issue visas to new employees sent to work in the [British] consular offices of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to carry out British Council work."
Emerging from the foreign ministry in the Russian capital, British ambassador Sir Tony Brenton said he had told officials the UK and Russia had a "serious disagreement". Emerging from his brief meeting in the Russian capital, British ambassador Sir Tony Brenton said he had told Vladimir Titov, the deputy foreign minister, a "serious disagreement" existed between the two countries.
The diplomat said he had made a "statement of our clear view that the British Council is working entirely legally, that it will continue therefore to work, that any Russian action against it would be a breach of international law". Mr Titov had handed him "a long piece of paper setting out the Russian legal view on the work of the British Council", he said.
He said he had told Russian officials: "It's also the case that we have a huge number of other subjects where Russia and the UK need to work together and we need to be quite careful to prevent this situation infecting all the other pieces of business." The diplomat said he had replied that "the British Council is working entirely legally, that it will continue therefore to work, that any Russian action against it would be a breach of international law".
BBC Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin says the escalating diplomatic crisis is now coming to a head and it is not clear if either side is willing to back down. He said he had told Mr Titov: "It's also the case that we have a huge number of other subjects where Russia and the UK need to work together and we need to be quite careful to prevent this situation infecting all the other pieces of business."
BBC Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin says Russia has clearly been angered by the British Council defiance.
The escalating diplomatic crisis is now coming to a head and it is not clear if either side is willing to back down, he says.
The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules.The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules.
'Valuable work''Valuable work'
Council chief executive Martin Davidson said it would continue talking to the Russians in the hope of continuing its work.Council chief executive Martin Davidson said it would continue talking to the Russians in the hope of continuing its work.
He told the BBC: "We have to understand the issues, the problems they have with our work, but we believe [our work] is enormously valuable.He told the BBC: "We have to understand the issues, the problems they have with our work, but we believe [our work] is enormously valuable.
Russia has linked its action to wider British-Russian tensionsRussia has linked its action to wider British-Russian tensions
"We know ordinary Russian people believe it is of real value to them, as well of course to us here in the UK, to have that relationship with Russia.""We know ordinary Russian people believe it is of real value to them, as well of course to us here in the UK, to have that relationship with Russia."
The offices in Yekaterinburg are on the premises of the UK consulate-general.The offices in Yekaterinburg are on the premises of the UK consulate-general.
The row came on top of continuing tensions over the death of former KGB officer Litvinenko in London in November 2006. He had been given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210.The row came on top of continuing tensions over the death of former KGB officer Litvinenko in London in November 2006. He had been 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.The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko.
When Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and Moscow followed suit.When Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and Moscow followed suit.
Russian officials have described the action against the British Council as a retaliatory measure.Russian officials have described the action against the British Council as a retaliatory measure.
Are you affected by the issues discussed in this story? Are you in Russia? Please send your comments by using the form below.
Are you affected by the issues discussed in this story? Are you in Russia? Please send your comments by using the form below.
Name
 Name