Why does Britain always get accused of this post-colonial hangover? We lost ours 60 years ago...Russia lost theirs 15 years ago....this is Russia trying to look big and tough because they're the ones who've suddenly found themselves powerless. Look at actions in Estonia, Ukraine and Georgia and tell me who is trying to flex their colonial influence.

Simon, Moscow,

The problem here is that Putin knows that Britain has lost the moral high ground due to its craven support of the US in world affairs. As Russian leader, Putin is sabre rattlling to see how much suppport we have. When it is apparent that Britain is islolated Russia will move one place up the league table of superstates, and poor old GB will be somewhere below Argentina or Poland. It's all irrelevant anyway, because China and India will be fighting over top place within twenty years, whilst GB will be part of a smoldering ruin of a 'superstate' called Europe.

David, wolverhampton, England

How absurd, ignorant and inconsiderate. England is holding on to, and refusing to extradite Berezhovsky, as Russia has demanded. What in the world makes these British people think that they have the right to impose themselves so adamantly in someone elses country. How much English does the average Russian learn at the British council in any given day?, Is the British council the only place to study English in Leningrad?. This type of arrogance I agree stems from centuries of imperial imposition.
The fact remains that the western world continues to see itself as the doyen of the universe, and dares anyone that challenges their impositions. Russia should not put up with this insult, and should throw them out as soon as possible. The natives in Papua New Guinea need to learn english, and the jungles there will be a place for a well deserved British council.

Blanshard Meheux, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Theatre or not - and I agree Putin is trying to prove that Russia still has some international clout - it's about time Britain received some support from its friends. If there was unanimous support of Britain internationally, Russia would soon back off. Come on, America etc., put your money where your mouth is!

Duncan, Esbjerg, Denmark

Emile, Milford, USA:

Never been more irrelevant? I think that at the very least we can teach our ignorant and poorly educated cousins how to spell, speak and write the English language properly, something you seem unable to do. If there's a local British Council Office in your local area maybe you should them pay a visit.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

Whatever, the deal is that British Council is a good place with nice motives. making a diplomatic row over petty issues seem to international fashion nowadays.
Even if the British Coucil were to operate illegally, the Russians can simply levy a fee, and legalise the council asap. This not something to fight for.
The Russians are also showing some restraint here coz, it's not gonna take them long to throw the bags of the British Council staff out. I guess Britain should play down, and not let the Russians go loos or provoke them. She is no empire anymore!
C'mon let's be friends!

Balaji, Bangalore, India

Every nation and every government has the right to control foreign involvement and impact onto internal affairs of the country. Especially if we are talking about foreign government agencies. I am surprised how patient Russian government is - in this matter. And I would also ask - why is it British government so much keen to fight for their alleged right to "teach Russians English language" - in those centres? Is this the last English-teaching resource - and the resource of the outmost importance - in Russia these days? It smells, guys... This reminds me some speech some famous British politician had given in some small town in America - Fulton - many years ago...

Oleg, Sydney, Australia

Matbe it is time to hit Russia where it will hurt - stop buying Russian gas and they will soon want to come to the table and talk...

Further, to all our Amercian brothers who think that Britain is in the wrong, or we are trying to excert the part influences of an Empire ... if the Russian government where to close down the
Voice of America in Moscow, St Petersburg etc... , then you would be the first one howling for international support from Britain, Europe etc. Maybe it is time you supported your friends?

Also, if the Russian government was to be implicated in the murder of a US citizen in Washington, how would you react? Would you want to see the killers brought to trial, and not given diplomatic immunity?

Wake up America...support your friends or they won't support you in the future (think of Iraq / Afganistan etc)

Anyway...thats enough of a rant....

Simon Albion, London, UK

Will somebody please just remark on the rank hypocrisy of this?.

1) The Russian Govt have said they are going to close British Council offices because they are operating illegally
2) then they say they are going to close the British Coucil offices because the British Govt is still pursuing their request to put Luguvoi on trial
3) then they say the British Council haven't paid taxes and will be fined if they don't agree to close down the offices
4) then the FSB says British Council offices are used for espionage and should be closed for that reason

So if they really ARE in tax arrears, why are those taxes not levied now?
So if they are really spy centres, why are they not closed already?

The WHOLE WORLD KNOWS this row is purely about Litvinenko and the Russian bully boy government which thinks we should bow and scrape to the chief hood of Europe and go home tail between our legs, covering in respect for his "greatness" as an international thug.

Am I drunk? Doesn't anyone else think there is something totally missing in the logic of all this? Can anyone in the Russian government actually think that anyone else in the world (apart from their own poor deceived citizens) believe ANY of their drivel?

So they close the British Council office and deprive thousands (yes thousands) of their OWN Russian citizens of the chance to learn English, find our about study in the UK, etc. And just to spite the British, the Chechen government at Moscows behest closes a counselling centre for traumatised Chechens which we shouldn't need to run un the first place, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE DOING IT ALREADY. Are they doing it? Pigs might fly. There are over 1m street children in Russia (90% of whom have living parents), 10% of the citizens will have AIDS by 2010, people are so depressed about their prospects that there are more abortions than live births, and their President stashes away over $40bn. It is obscene and criminal.

President Putin and his cronies may buy European palaces, football teams and smart cars but this type of behaviour shows how little breeding, class and civilisation they really have. Underneath the Armani, they are still wearing the clothes of Genghis Khan.

William Davidson, London,

How can the UK keep the centers open if Russia is determined to close them? Cannot the Russian police simply arrive, arrest the people inside, and padlock the doors? I am surprised they have not done so already.

Hal, Tucson,

Its just great to see the closet Marxists of the British Establishment being given the "bums rush" by the Russians - of all people!

Geoff M, Bromsgrove, England

I believe the Brits will bow out within days/weeks. The agreement to permit BC's activities in Russia was tolerated when Russia was on its knees. Things are different now, and the British are trying to save face. Well, we know how it always ends!
The've never been more irrelevant in the world, and rising Russia reminds them of their historic loss as an empire.

Emile, Milford, USA

With some 250,000 non dom Russians living in London with billions in monies resting untaxed in London banks, UK one of biggest investors in Russia, Russia about to supply gas direct to Germany by a Baltic pipleline, Boeing Aircraft having just signed a $1 billion order for titianium parts from a Russian firm for their new Dreamliner, this is pure diplomatic theatre.

Charles McGrory, Glasgow , Scotland