RUSSIA - UNITED KINGDOM
British Council suspends Saint Petersburg branch
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The British Council suspended operations at its Saint Petersburg office as the UK condemned the intimidation of the cultural organisation's employees, who have been repeatedly questioned in Russia.
MOSCOW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Britain warned Russia on
Wednesday any attempt to intimidate staff of its cultural arm
was "completely unacceptable" after Russia's state security
service summoned local employees to speak to its officers.
Wednesday any attempt to intimidate staff of its cultural arm
was "completely unacceptable" after Russia's state security
service summoned local employees to speak to its officers.
Britain's consulate in St Petersburg said the British
Council office in the northern city had been forced to shut
temporarily because all its Russian staff had been told to
report to the authorities for the second time in 24 hours.
Council office in the northern city had been forced to shut
temporarily because all its Russian staff had been told to
report to the authorities for the second time in 24 hours.
Russia has demanded the British Council close two regional
offices in a row that has its roots in a dispute over the 2006
murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Kremlin critic and ex-Russian
agent who died in London from a massive dose of radiation.
offices in a row that has its roots in a dispute over the 2006
murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Kremlin critic and ex-Russian
agent who died in London from a massive dose of radiation.
Britain has refused to close the two Council offices -- in
St Petersburg and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg -- and rejects
Russia's allegation that they are operating illegally.
St Petersburg and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg -- and rejects
Russia's allegation that they are operating illegally.
A Council spokeswoman in London said its staff in both
cities had been summoned on Tuesday to see the Federal Security
Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB secret
police.
cities had been summoned on Tuesday to see the Federal Security
Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB secret
police.
The staff were also visited at their homes on Tuesday
evening by Interior Ministry officials, she said. Russian
officials said they were holding explanatory talks with Council
staff, not questioning them.
evening by Interior Ministry officials, she said. Russian
officials said they were holding explanatory talks with Council
staff, not questioning them.
The Council also said Stephen Kinnock, the head of its St
Petersburg operations and son of former European Commissioner
Neil Kinnock, had been stopped by police on Tuesday evening for
a traffic violation.
Petersburg operations and son of former European Commissioner
Neil Kinnock, had been stopped by police on Tuesday evening for
a traffic violation.
"Any intimidation or harassment of officials is obviously
completely unacceptable," British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband told reporters in London.
completely unacceptable," British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband told reporters in London.
He said the head of the British diplomatic service, Peter
Ricketts, would explain Britain's position at a meeting with
Russian ambassador Yuri Fedotov on Wednesday.
Ricketts, would explain Britain's position at a meeting with
Russian ambassador Yuri Fedotov on Wednesday.
"The only losers from any attack on the British Council are
Russian citizens who want to use the British Council ... and the
reputation of the Russian government," Miliband said.
Russian citizens who want to use the British Council ... and the
reputation of the Russian government," Miliband said.
The Council promotes British culture abroad by putting on
concerts and exhibitions and organising educational exchanges.
concerts and exhibitions and organising educational exchanges.
TIES AT LOW EBB
Relations between Britain and Russia are at their worst
since the Cold War, soured by the Litvinenko murder, mutual
espionage allegations and political asylum given by Britain to
prominent enemies of President Vladimir Putin.
since the Cold War, soured by the Litvinenko murder, mutual
espionage allegations and political asylum given by Britain to
prominent enemies of President Vladimir Putin.
On Dec. 12 Russia ordered the British Council to halt work
from Jan. 1 at its two regional offices, saying Britain had
broken a host of international and domestic rules.
from Jan. 1 at its two regional offices, saying Britain had
broken a host of international and domestic rules.
Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a source in the FSB as
saying the Council's staff were not subjected to questioning.
saying the Council's staff were not subjected to questioning.
"The ... employees talked to federal security officers, who
explained to them that the British organisation is operating
illegally," it said.
explained to them that the British organisation is operating
illegally," it said.
The FSB said late on Tuesday it would speak to the staff to
prevent them from being used by Britain "in provocative games".
prevent them from being used by Britain "in provocative games".
A Reuters photographer outside the British Council office in
St Petersburg said the doors were shut and the premises were
deserted. A recorded telephone message said its closure was "due
to the recent action against us by the Russian authorities".
St Petersburg said the doors were shut and the premises were
deserted. A recorded telephone message said its closure was "due
to the recent action against us by the Russian authorities".
The Council spokeswoman said the organisation was "deeply
concerned" about the treatment of its staff. "Our main concern
is the safety and security of our Russian and UK staff."
concerned" about the treatment of its staff. "Our main concern
is the safety and security of our Russian and UK staff."
She said police in St Petersburg briefly detained Stephen
Kinnock, gave him a ticket for a traffic violation and released
him. Neil Kinnock is the chair of the British Council worldwide.
Kinnock, gave him a ticket for a traffic violation and released
him. Neil Kinnock is the chair of the British Council worldwide.
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