British offices defy order to close

A BRITISH cultural organisation reopened offices in two Russian cities yesterday in defiance of an order to close, drawing an angry response from Russia, which called the decision a “deliberate provocation” and promised punitive measures.

Britain refused to back down. Its ambassador said the British Council offices would remain open and that any Russian action against the organisation would violate international law.

The British Council offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg reopened after the holiday break, despite Russia’s warnings that defying orders to suspend their operations by January 1 would worsen bilateral relations.

Russia last month ordered the closure of the two regional offices of the British Council, a non-profit organisation which acts as the cultural arm of the British

Embassy, saying they were operating illegally. British officials dispute that claim, and the offices reopened on schedule after a holiday break.

Russia contends that the British Council acts as a for-profit organisation.

It promised “a series of administrative and legal measures” and said the two offices violate the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

British authorities say the organisation’s operations comply with that pact as well as Russian law and a 1994 bilateral agreement.