A prominent British human rights lawyer has been ordered to leave Russia in a tightening of visa laws that could affect hundreds of experts from the European Union.

Professor William Bowring was woken at his hotel and interrogated by immigration officials in Astrakhan, southern Russia, after giving training lectures to local judges. He was detained for several hours, fined and told to leave within two days for having the wrong visa.

Professor Bowring was one of hundreds of experts who travel to Russia each year on short-term programmes funded by the EU. His expulsion at a time of strained relations between the Kremlin and the EU has alarmed the European Commission (EC) in Moscow, which has issued advice to other visitors to check that their status is in order. Taneli Lahti, head of the political section at the EC’s mission, said it was the first time that an expert had been expelled on a short-term visit. He hoped that the case did not signal a hardening of official attitudes towards the EU, which is funding about 100 programmes in Russia.

“I hope that there is not a change of mood, but of course there are things in the air that may lead a person to believe something else is happening. I hope not because it would be quite unfortunate for our relationship,” Mr Lahti told The Times yesterday.

The treatment of Professor Bowring has drawn particular attention because he is a prominent figure in Russia for his work in helping Chechen victims of torture and abuse to sue the Kremlin at the European Court of Human Rights. He heads the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre at London Metropolitan University, which helps individuals and nongovernmental organisations to fight cases against Russia. He is also Professor of Law at Birkbeck College, University of London.

In 2005 he was detained by border guards at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow and expelled as he tried to attend the trial of a newspaper editor.

Professor Bowring was invited this time by the Astrakhan justice department as part of a project to improve the local courts. Visitors to Russia need an invitation, and in this instance an official sent a voucher for a tourist visa. Professor Bowring said that he expressed reservations about the visa but travelled to Astrakhan, where he presented two lectures, met the human rights ombudsman and gave interviews to local journalists. The immigration officials said that his activities amounted to work and that he should have arrived on a business visa.

They fined him £40 and gave him 48 hours to leave. Professor Bowring returned to Britain on Saturday.

Mr Lahti admitted that other experts could face similar difficulties a month after tight new visa regulations were introduced. He said: “Legally, the Russian authorities are doing the right thing, but whether it is fair or reasonable to require them to leave is another matter.”

The Federal Migration Service denied any political motive. A spokesman said: “One should be careful about one’s visa. A foreigner visiting Russia with a tourist visa cannot work here.”

Times Recommends

• Rio Tinto four held as China prepares case
• Diplomats must keep heads down and trousers up
• When in Rome should one make like Berlusconi?