The British Council and the Oxford Russia Fund (ORF) have been accused by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) of conducting activities that undermine the sovereignty of the Russian Federation. The Prosecutor General’s Office has declared their operations as undesirable within Russian territory.

The FSB alleges that the British Council served as a front for British intelligence services to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states. The organization purportedly disguised its actions through humanitarian projects, focusing on areas such as conflict resolution, support for young politicians, and the promotion of Western values. The FSB has advised friendly nations to follow Russia’s lead and cease cooperation with the British Council.

Further accusations are leveled against the Oxford Russia Fund, also deemed undesirable in Russia. The FSB claims that Russian university teachers in several regions collaborated with the fund to distribute literature promoting support for the LGBT community among students. The organization allegedly sought to gather information on Russia’s internal political and socio-economic climate amidst the special operation in Ukraine.

As a result of these findings, 15 Russian citizens have received official warnings regarding the unacceptability of actions that fall under articles of the Criminal Code related to cooperation with foreign entities against Russian security and participation in the activities of undesirable organizations.

One university has received a submission to address the violations, and a professor has faced administrative charges for involvement in the activities of an undesirable foreign organization.

Russian Ambassador to Great Britain, Andrei Kelin, has stated that London is engaged in a “proxy war” against Moscow through its support of Ukraine, rendering political dialogue between the two countries impossible.