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/uk_politics/7193186.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia row offices 'to stay shut' | Russia row offices 'to stay shut' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two offices of the British Council in Russia are likely to remain closed amid ongoing tensions between London and Moscow, council officials have said. | Two offices of the British Council in Russia are likely to remain closed amid ongoing tensions between London and Moscow, council officials have said. |
| Sources have told the BBC there seems to be little appetite at the UK Foreign Office for further retaliation. | Sources have told the BBC there seems to be little appetite at the UK Foreign Office for further retaliation. |
| The UK had refused demands to close the St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices until Russian security services told local staff their jobs were illegal. | The UK had refused demands to close the St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices until Russian security services told local staff their jobs were illegal. |
| Russia has accused the cultural body of tax violations, which the UK denies. | |
| Cultural ties | Cultural ties |
| On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Russia of "completely unacceptable" behaviour, following pressure from Moscow to shut the council offices. | On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Russia of "completely unacceptable" behaviour, following pressure from Moscow to shut the council offices. |
| The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, eventually closed their doors after Russian staff were called in by the Russian security services and interviewed. | The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, eventually closed their doors after Russian staff were called in by the Russian security services and interviewed. |
| St Petersburg office director Stephen Kinnock - the son of former Labour leader Neil - was also followed, stopped and released by authorities on Tuesday after he had been accused of driving the wrong way up a one-way street and of smelling of alcohol. | St Petersburg office director Stephen Kinnock - the son of former Labour leader Neil - was also followed, stopped and released by authorities on Tuesday after he had been accused of driving the wrong way up a one-way street and of smelling of alcohol. |
| The UK government is likely... to argue that closing British Council offices only damages Russia's reputation BBC correspondent Bridget Kendall | The UK government is likely... to argue that closing British Council offices only damages Russia's reputation BBC correspondent Bridget Kendall |
| Up until now the UK government has been defiant, insisting all British Council activities in Russia are entirely legal. | Up until now the UK government has been defiant, insisting all British Council activities in Russia are entirely legal. |
| But council officials have now told the BBC that the offices will remain closed, in order to protect staff members. | But council officials have now told the BBC that the offices will remain closed, in order to protect staff members. |
| A formal statement from the director of the British Council is expected on Thursday. | A formal statement from the director of the British Council is expected on Thursday. |
| Sources have told the BBC there does not appear to be much appetite for retaliation at the Foreign Office, where there is a recognition that Britain has few options left in the row. | Sources have told the BBC there does not appear to be much appetite for retaliation at the Foreign Office, where there is a recognition that Britain has few options left in the row. |
| Moral high ground | Moral high ground |
| Instead the UK government is likely to claim the moral high ground, arguing that closing British Council offices only damages Russia's reputation and deprives ordinary Russians of a "much valued" cultural link, BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said. | Instead the UK government is likely to claim the moral high ground, arguing that closing British Council offices only damages Russia's reputation and deprives ordinary Russians of a "much valued" cultural link, BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said. |
| The row is part of the ongoing dispute between Russia and the UK over the death of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned in London in November 2006. | The row is part of the ongoing dispute between Russia and the UK over the death of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned in London in November 2006. |
| Russia has refused to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko. | Russia has refused 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. |