Thursday 17th January, 2008
Russia arrests British Council member
Big News Network.com Wednesday 16th January, 2008
The British Council's office in St. Petersburg has ceased operating after Russian officials interviewed staff and allegedly detained the head of the office.
Russian media has reported that Russian police detained the director of the St. Petersburg office for drunk driving and other traffic violations.
Russia had ordered that the Council's regional offices be closed over alleged tax violations, but, in defiance of the ban, the offices in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg resumed work after the New Year holidays.
Moscow called the re-opening of the offices a provocation.
The British Council, a non-profit organization which promotes education and cultural programs, first established an office in Moscow in the 1990’s and went on to open a further 14 offices across the country.
It has been involved in three years of legal wrangling with Russian authorities over the alleged non-payment of tax and issues relating to its legal status.
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