The Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the activities of the educational organisation The British Council “undesirable

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the activities of the international educational organisation The British Council as “undesirable.” This was reported on the agency’s website.

According to its account, the organisation “conceals itself behind educational and cultural activities <…> under the pretext of teaching the English language” and “actively promotes and supports the banned 'LGBT movement'” in Russia.

“The [organisation’s] goal is also 'to rid the populations of former Soviet republics of Russian identity'. As part of a consortium created with other undesirable organisations, The British Council implements a so-called 'cultural engagement programme to unite the anti-Russian Baltic community',” the Prosecutor General’s message states.

• The British Council was founded in 1934 by royal charter. The organisation is formally part of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, but operates independently from it. Each year, more than a million people take the IELTS English language exam through The British Council. The organisation also works on arts and education projects.