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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Russia actions 'stain reputation' | Russia actions 'stain reputation' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has described Russia's "reprehensible" actions against the British Council as a "stain" on the country's reputation. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has described Russia's "reprehensible" actions against the British Council as a "stain" on the country's reputation. |
| He said council staff had been grilled by Russian security services on issues including their family pets' health. | |
| He said such actions were "not worthy of a great country" as he read out EU and US messages of support for Britain. | He said such actions were "not worthy of a great country" as he read out EU and US messages of support for Britain. |
| The council has suspended work at two Russian offices, saying "intimidation" made it impossible to continue. | The council has suspended work at two Russian offices, saying "intimidation" made it impossible to continue. |
| The tension is part of a wider row about British attempts to extradite a Russian businessman on suspicion of murdering a former KGB agent, Alexander Litvinenko, in London in November 2006. | The tension is part of a wider row about British attempts to extradite a Russian businessman on suspicion of murdering a former KGB agent, Alexander Litvinenko, in London in November 2006. |
| 'Intimidation' campaign | 'Intimidation' campaign |
| The British Council found itself at the centre of tensions after the Russian government ordered it to close its two offices outside Moscow, accusing it of tax violations. | The British Council found itself at the centre of tensions after the Russian government ordered it to close its two offices outside Moscow, accusing it of tax violations. |
| The Russian allegations and demands were rejected but British Council chief executive Martin Davidson said on Thursday that its St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices' work would have to be suspended. | The Russian allegations and demands were rejected but British Council chief executive Martin Davidson said on Thursday that its St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices' work would have to be suspended. |
| The Russian authorities have made it impossible for us to operate in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg Martin DavidsonBritish Council chief executive Full British Council statement | |
| 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 well-being of our staff and I feel we cannot continue our work without significant risk to them. | "Our paramount consideration is the well-being of our staff and I feel we cannot continue our work without significant risk to them. |
| We saw similar actions during the Cold War but frankly thought they had been put behind us David MilibandForeign Secretary | We saw similar actions during the Cold War but frankly thought they had been put behind us 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 saying the council's Russian staff had been questioned by security services on everything from the British Council's institutional status to the health and welfare of family pets. | In a statement to MPs, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed "anger and dismay" at Russia's actions saying the council's Russian staff had been questioned by security services on everything from the British Council's institutional status to the health and welfare of family pets. |
| "We saw similar actions during the Cold War but frankly thought they had been put behind us," he told MPs. | "We saw similar actions during the Cold War but frankly thought they had been put behind us," he told MPs. |
| "I think the whole House will agree such actions are reprehensible, not worthy of a great country, and contrary to the letter and spirit of the legal framework under which the British Council operates, notably international law" | "I think the whole House will agree such actions are reprehensible, not worthy of a great country, and contrary to the letter and spirit of the legal framework under which the British Council operates, notably international law" |
| Reputation 'stained' | Reputation 'stained' |
| 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 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 added: "Russia's actions against the British Council are a stain on Russian's reputation and standing." | He added: "Russia's actions against the British Council are a stain on Russian's reputation and standing." |
| For the Conservatives, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We join you in deploring the Soviet-era tactics employed against legitimate cultural contact, tactics which we trust will be counter-productive against the Russian point of view and are deeply offensive from the British point of view." | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It is unfortunate that the British Council which does much good in Russia has been caught in the political crossfire John Smith, Barnsley Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY It is unfortunate that the British Council which does much good in Russia has been caught in the political crossfire John Smith, Barnsley Send us your comments |
| Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: "Intimidation of British Council staff is quite unacceptable. | |
| "The Russian government needs to understand that these bully-boy tactics make them look increasingly ridiculous in the eyes of the international community." | |
| In addition to the staff interviews on Tuesday, the director of the British Council Office in St Petersburg, Stephen Kinnock - the son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock - 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. |
| 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. |
| Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe - of which Russia and the UK are both members - said his organisation could "provide a forum to sort out this issue of extradition". |