The UK embassy in Moscow declined to comment on the ambassador's schedule.

British Council offices reopened in the Russian cities of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg despite a government ban.

They were ordered to close last month in a deepening political row over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.

The Russian ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office.

The Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules.

Tense relations

"We never comment on the ambassador's programme," an embassy spokesperson told BBC News on Monday, referring to the Interfax report.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the organisation is fully entitled to operate in Russia.

A British embassy spokesman told BBC News that the Council's legal position in Russia was "rock solid".

The row came on top of continuing tensions over the death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in November 2006. He had been given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210.

The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko.

When Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and Moscow followed suit.

Russian officials have described the action against the British Council as a retaliatory measure.

(BBC)

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