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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Russia row offices work suspended | Russia row offices work suspended |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The British Council has suspended work at two of its Russian offices, amid tensions between London and Moscow. | The British Council has suspended work at two of its Russian offices, amid tensions between London and Moscow. |
| Its chief executive Martin Davidson confirmed the move, which comes after its Russian staff were called in for interviews with the security service. | Its chief executive Martin Davidson confirmed the move, which comes after its Russian staff were called in for interviews with the security service. |
| That had made it impossible to carry on work from its St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices, he said. | That had made it impossible to carry on work from its St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices, he said. |
| Britain had refused Russian demands to close them, amid a wider row about the murder of an ex-KGB agent in London. | Britain had refused Russian demands to close them, amid a wider row about the murder of an ex-KGB agent in London. |
| The Russian authorities have made it impossible for us to operate in St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg Martin DavidsonBritish Council chief executive Full British Council statement | The Russian authorities have made it impossible for us to operate in St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg Martin DavidsonBritish Council chief executive Full British Council statement |
| The British Council found itself at the centre of tensions. The Russian government had ordered it to close its two offices outside Moscow, accusing it of tax violations - denied by Britain. | The British Council found itself at the centre of tensions. The Russian government had ordered it to close its two offices outside Moscow, accusing it of tax violations - denied by Britain. |
| In a statement, Mr Davidson accused the Russian government of initiating "a campaign of intimidation against our staff" in the two offices. | In a statement, Mr Davidson accused the Russian government of initiating "a campaign of intimidation against our staff" in the two offices. |
| He said more than 20 Russian staff had been called to attend interviews with the FSB security service and ten more were visited at their homes late at night by Russian tax police. | He said more than 20 Russian staff had been called to attend interviews with the FSB security service and ten more were visited at their homes late at night by Russian tax police. |
| Cultural ties | Cultural ties |
| "The interviews had little to do with their work and were clearly aimed at exerting undue pressure on innocent individuals," he said. | "The interviews had little to do with their work and were clearly aimed at exerting undue pressure on innocent individuals," he said. |
| "Our paramount consideration is the wellbeing of our staff and I feel we cannot continue our work without significant risk to them. | "Our paramount consideration is the wellbeing of our staff and I feel we cannot continue our work without significant risk to them. |
| Russia's actions against the British Council are a stain on Russian's reputation and standing David MilibandForeign Secretary | |
| "The Russian authorities have made it impossible for us to operate in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg so I have taken the decision to suspend operations in both cities." | "The Russian authorities have made it impossible for us to operate in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg so I have taken the decision to suspend operations in both cities." |
| In a statement to MPs, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed "anger and dismay" at Russia's actions adding: "We saw similar actions during the Cold War but frankly thought they had been put behind us." | |
| He said cultural activities should not become "a political football" so he had decided not to take similar actions against Russian activities in the UK and said the British Council would continue its work in Moscow. | |
| He said: "Russia's actions against the British Council are a stain on Russian's reputation and standing." | |
| In addition to the staff interviews on Tuesday - 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. | |
| 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. |
| Sources at the council 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 at the council 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 given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210 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 given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210 in London, in November 2006. |
| Russia has refused to hand over businessman and former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko. | Russia has refused to hand over businessman and former KGB agent 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. |
| Mr Lugovoi, who is now a member of the Russian parliament, says he has been framed and denies any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's murder. | Mr Lugovoi, who is now a member of the Russian parliament, says he has been framed and denies any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's murder. |