Stephen Kinnock, head of the British Council in St Petersburg, gestures during an interview in St Petersburg January 14, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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Chief of British Council Office Detained in St. Petersburg
Stephen Kinnock, head of the British Council in St Petersburg, has been detained in that city of Russia, representatives of enforcement bodies said.
The traffic police detained Stephen Kinnock in downtown St. Petersburg. According to the recent data, Kinnock was drunk when driving the car. British Council hasn’t commented on the accident.
Kinnock’s detention happened at the height of the scandal triggered by resumption of work of the British Council’s office in St. Petersburg despite the Kremlin’s order to halt operations due to violation of the international and domestic laws. The Brits defiantly ignored the order and opened St. Petersburg office after New Year holidays.
The media reported earlier that Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador to explain why London had defied the order to close its cultural outposts in the country.
It emerged early on Wednesday that the FSB is working with Russia’s employees of the British Council to make clear the standing of Moscow in the conflict to them. The purpose is to prevent the Russians from being lured into provocative games of the Brits, the officers said.
www.kommersant.com
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