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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Putin boots British Council in conflict over Litvinenko |
| 2007-12-13 |
| Also 'cos he can. Britain and Russia are on course for a dramatic showdown after the Kremlin ordered the British embassy to suspend all of its cultural operations outside Moscow. Unveiling the latest retaliation in a diplomatic dispute over the murder of ex-KGB defector Alexander Litvinenko last year, Russia instructed the British Council, the Foreign Office's cultural arm, to close its outlets in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg by the beginning of January. Britain immediately vowed to defy the order, which it said constituted "a serious breach of international law", setting the stage for a potential police showdown at the two offices in the New Year. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #1 outrage that a charitable entity was being targeted for political reasons The Russians feel they don't have any leverage, so they're using the British Council. It doesn't matter that it's a charity. Of course, you won't hear anything about this on "The View". |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-12-13 05:56 |