The aim of the Scotland-Russia Forum is to promote interest in Russia and its neighbours in order to improve understanding of those countries in Scotland. The SRF is an independent Scottish charity (reg. no. SC038728) founded in February 2003 and run by volunteers. Since 2008 we have had our own culture centre, the Scotland-Russia Institute, in Edinburgh and offer a busy programme of lectures, exhibitions, language classes and other activities. We publish a biannual journal, the SRF Review. The Institute also houses a lending library and a small shop and is open 5 days a week.The SRF has over 300 full members and over 800 people receive regular e-bulletins with information on events all over Scotland.

                       NEWS

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• Latest SRF News Bulletins: 10 May 2012, 25 April 2012, 5 April 2012.  If you would like to receive these by email let us know.
• Volunteers needed!  We are a voluntary organisation, growing all the time, and that means more and more work for volunteers.  Get in touch and we can outline all the interesting (maybe career enhancing?) volunteer opportunities: phone Jenny on 0131 668 365 or 0784 691 7627 / email info@scotlandrussiaforum.org
  
• Edinburgh Festivals 2012 - as the programmes are published we will list events from and about Russia and her neighbours on our Festivals webpage
  
• Language assistants in Russia: although the deadline has passed we will consider late applications if you contact us very soon! Details here
  
• Bulgakov at the SRI: A very short extract from the brilliant magic show based on Bulgakov we put on in January – with Kevin McMahon as Voland, David Crosbie (Koroviev), Alexey Schellenberg (Begemot) and Dewi Wynne Jones (Bengalsky). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQNpkAz3hE&feature=youtu.be
  

• Award for SRF:  The Russian Embassy presented our chair, Jenny Carr, an award (Почётный знак Россотрудничества) for the SRF’s contribution to international cooperation. The presentation took place on Monday 16 January when John Swinney and other representatives of the Scottish Government met representatives of Russian companies at the Embassy and briefed them on the investment climate in Scotland. Phioto L-R: Russian Fisheries Minister Andrey Krayniy, Scottish Finance Minister John Swinney, SDI Moscow manager Yuri Andreev, the Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko and Jenny Carr.  See also http://rusemb.org.uk/activity/42. Русская версия: http://www.rus.rusemb.org.uk/activity/45
  
• Anniversaries in 2012.  1150 years ago (862 AD): Foundation of the Russian state; 400 years ago (1612): uprising of Minin and Pozharsky which ended the Time of Troubles (to be celebrated 4 Nov 2012); 300 years ago (1712): Peter the Great proclaimed St Petersburg capital of Russia; 200 years ago (1812): birth of Alexander Herzen; victory over Napoleon at Borodino; 135 years ago (12/24 Sept 1877): birth of the founder of the Russian Olympic movement and of Russian football, Georgy Duperron; 60 years ago (7 Oct 1952): birth of Vladimir Putin.
  
• What do YOU think the SRF ought to be doing?  Please let us know here.  The more responses we get the more we know what you think!  Dowloadable MS Word version of the same survey here - please email your responses to srfnews@scotlandrussiaforum.org
• Ernst and Young survey (Sept 2011) shows that Russia is increasingly attractive to UK companies.
  

• Tues 20 Sept:  A petition urging support for lesser taught languages in universities was presented to Parliament by Sir Tom Stoppard.  A good crowd turned out in support and press coverage included an STV news report which also featured teacher Laszlo Novak and the Russian Consul General talking about the dire school situation: http://player.stv.tv/programmes/news-at-six-edinburgh-east/2011-09-20-1800/ (item starts at 14.22min).  Other reports included a BBC report and video of the Petitions Committee proceedings on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14981426, a video and article on the Herald website, and articles in the Scotsman and Times
• 5% discount on all Intourist holidays booked through SRF.  We have brochures at the SRI or you can browse online at  www.intouristuk.com.
  
• Scottish school exams in Russian have been axed. We tried to muster support to stop this (see webpage) but all the powerful arguments there have fallen on deaf ears. Where do we go from here??
  
• Contact us on info@scotlandrussiaforum.org / 0131 668 3635 if you would like to help us with any of our activities
  
• Download a short review of our achievements so far.
• SRF and associates in the News