FSB accused Oxford Russia Fund of recruiting teachers from four Russian universities

The British organization Oxford Russia Fund ("Oxford Russian Fund"), which was declared undesirable in Russia in 2021, was engaged in recruiting Russian university professors in the country to the detriment of Russia's security. This was announced on June 5 by the press service of the FSB's Public Relations Center.

It is noted that during the investigation, representatives of the teaching staff of leading Russian universities were identified who collaborated with the British side to the detriment of the country's security.

In addition, employees of universities in the Volgograd, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Tomsk regions, on the instructions of the organization, distributed literature and manuals in educational institutions promoting support for sexual minorities and LGBT people (the movement is banned in the Russian Federation and recognized as extremist).

Work was also underway to obtain information on the development of the domestic political and socio-economic situation in Russia against the background of the special operation in Ukraine.

It is noted that 15 Russian citizens have been officially warned against such actions, which are provided for under Articles 275.1 and Part 1 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, a university teacher was brought to administrative responsibility under Article 20.33 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation "Participation in the activities of a foreign or international organization, in respect of which a decision was made to declare its activities undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation."

On the same day, the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia reported that the agency had declared undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation the activities of the British Council organization, which promotes British values in the country under the guise of educational and cultural work. She also implements projects aimed at discrediting the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation.

Shortly after, the FSB's Public Relations Center reported that the British Council was involved in intelligence operations against sovereign countries. The ministry recommended that partners from friendly countries follow Moscow's example and limit the activities of this association in their territories.