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 some 700 people receive regular e-bulletins with information on events all over Scotland.

                       NEWS

• 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): 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
• Latest SRF News Bulletins: 19 Jan 2012, 10 Jan 2012, 14 Dec 2011.  If you would like to receive these by email let us know.
• Election protest in Edinburgh: 10am 24 Dec.  Members of the Edinburgh Russian community joined protesters all over Russia and organised a protest in front of the Russian Consulate on Melville Street.
• 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.
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