Posted on January 16, 2008 - by Venik
British Council vs GIBDD (Russian traffic police)
Stephen Kinnock, the head of the British Council in Russia, was detained by police on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held for about an hour and then released with consular help. Work of the British Council in St. Petersburg has been temporarily suspended because the Council’s Russian staff is being “interviewed” by the FSB.
I hope British Council updated its stocks of candles, flashlights, and bottled water. I would not be surprised if the Council’s office building in St. Petersburg was suddenly disconnected from the electric grid for not paying the bills and lost water service due to technical malfunctions. Another possibility is a major road repair project that would involve digging a giant hole right in front of the Council’s main entrance.
British ambassador to Russia, Anthony Brenton, said that British Council is “very helpful to Russia and is actually very popular among the Russian people.” I am not sure about this. I’ve been reading the news just like everyone else and today I know about as much about British Council’s purpose and activities as I did a month ago. That is to say that whatever these guys actually do in Russia is not very clear.
I have little doubt that the British Council is a front for British intelligence services in Russia. It’s an organization with diplomatic protection, no obvious purpose, and easy access to general population – an ideal cover for an espionage campaign. Regardless of its true purposes, though, I think it’s irrelevant where this organization is “very helpful to Russia”: it’s an outgrowth of a diplomatic mission and if the Russian authorities order its closure, the British need to comply.
The Brits decided to snub Russia on its own turf. I doubt Russia is going to just drop this issue. The Council’s staff should fully expect continuing pressure from the Russian authorities.
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