Overview

• Russia’s Prosecutor General officially declared the British Council undesirable, accusing it of espionage and secret subversive activities
• Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleged the council sought to undermine national sovereignty and back outlawed extremist causes
• The FSB identified and warned Russian academics who cooperated with the council after it ceased operations in 2018, threatening them with prosecution
• The British Council rejects all allegations, saying it paused its Russia work in 2018 and focuses on promoting peace through culture, education and English teaching
• Analysts see the move as a direct response to the UK’s May 2025 sanctions on Russia’s military, energy and financial sectors