Great Britain, London / corr. Trend G. Ahmedova/ "It would be wrong to involve cultural ties and British Council to the international political dispute," Martin Davidson, the head of the British Council stated, the special correspondent of Trend reported from London.
"I am very disappointed that Russian authorities tried to restrict our cultural and educational ties which could be very valuable now," British Council press service said quoting Davidson.
The Council in Russia operates in full accordance with the international and Russian laws," Davidson said.
We are faithful to our obligations in Russia and hope that we will further work with the half million Russian partners and clients of the Council in Moscow, Davidson said.
On 2 December of 2007 the Russian Foreign Office demanded London to close the branches of the British Council in Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg from 1 January of 2008 saying that they lack relevant legal basis. The British Council began to function in Russia at the beginning of 1990th and opened central office in Moscow, then founded 15 regional representations without legal basis.
The day before the British Council has stopped the work of its branches in Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg announcing that Russian Government has made impossible its future activities.