British Council offices in Russia remain closed after Neil Kinnock's son's arrest

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A recorded message on the phone lines of the St Petersburg office states that, due to recent action against the council, staff were unable to open.

Britain had refused demands by Moscow to close that office and a second in the city of Yekaterinburg — until Russian security services told local staff their jobs were illegal.

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Arrested: Stephen Kinnock, right, with father Neil and mother Glennys

Russia has accused the cultural body of tax violations, which the UK denies.

Since then, Neil Kinnock's son Stephen, director of the council in St Petersburg, has been detained on "trumped-up" accusations of drinkdriving.

Other employees have been interviewed by Russia's security services and told to leave their jobs.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband described the action as "harassment" and "completely unacceptable".

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'Harassment': Stephen Kinnock with his Danish wife Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Government sources say Mr Putin can expect tit-for-tat expulsions of Russian officials from the UK if he presses ahead with his action to force the closure of the offices in St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg.

His action is the latest retaliation by Russia in the dispute over the murder of KGB defector Alexander Litvinenko.

Action: David Miliband vowed to respond

Senior figures from Moscow's intelligence world claimed the council was being used as a front for spying by the British secret services.

Mr Kinnock, 37, was pulled over late on Tuesday by armed police.

They tried to breathalyse him but he refused, citing his diplomatic immunity.

He was held for an hour and eventually issued with a ticket for a motoring offence.

A British Council spokesman said: "Categorically, he was not drunk."

Mr Kinnock got the Russian job with the council in 2005, shortly after his father became head of the council worldwide.

Russian nationals working for the British Council were also called in by the FSB, the successor to the feared KGB - some in the middle of the night.

They were apparently told they were working for an "illegal" organisation and told to leave their jobs.

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Row: Anglo-Russian relations have deteriorated over Moscow's refusal to extradite ex-KGB officer Andrei Lugovoy, left, wanted for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko (right).

The British Council said it was "deeply concerned" by the developments, while Mr Miliband has summoned the Russian ambassador in London for showdown talks.

Russia meanwhile accused Britain of behaving like a colonial power, branding the refusal to close council branches 'beyond understanding'.