The BEARR Trust’s 30th Anniversary Lecture – Tuesday 14 March 2023

“Russia: a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” 

Speaker: The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG KC 

Followed by a Q&A discussion chaired by  
Sir Roderic Lyne KBE CMG, British Ambassador to the Russian Federation 2000-2004 

This event has now passed.

Links to the report and recording of the lecture are in our April Newsletter.


The BEARR Trust is delighted to invite you to our 30th Anniversary Lecture, kindly hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) at their new headquarters in Canary Wharf (5 Bank St, London E14 4BG) at 6pm, Tuesday 14 March 2023. 

All proceeds from the lecture will go towards BEARR’s work supporting grassroots civil society organisations in the field of health and social welfare in the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The funds raised will also support the work of our Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and Moldova. 

Please arrive at the EBRD from 5.30pm on Tuesday 14 March for a prompt 6pm start. 

We look forward to seeing you there!


Please note that this event will not be live streamed. The lecture will be recorded and released publicly on our website and YouTube channel at a later date. If you would like early access to the recording, please contact our Information Officer on info@bearr.org


About the Speaker

Sir Malcolm Rifkind has a longstanding interest in the UK’s relations with Eastern Europe. As Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he was present at the historic meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher at her Chequers ‘dacha’ in 1984. As Secretary of State for Defence in 1992 one of his first overseas visits was to Kyiv, capital of the newly independent Ukraine. He wrote in 1994 that “Russia without Ukraine … is not and is unlikely again to become a global superpower”.  

In 2014 Sir Malcolm strongly criticised Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggressive destabilisation of parts of eastern Ukraine. He also called for tougher sanctions by western nations. When this led to him being banned from Russia, he responded, “If there had to be a list of people banned by Putin, I am proud to be one of them.”  

Read Sir Malcolm’s full biography here.

The Venue 

If you have a disability, or require any additional support to ensure your participation in the meeting/event, please contact Tina Hoy on email hoyt@ebrd.com and telephone number 07912 127626 [please feel free to give your contact details if you wish, and we can liaise closely].

How to find the EBRD: https://www.ebrd.com/corporate-information/london-headquarters.html  

If arriving via Canary Wharf underground station, please use the West Exit to Jubilee Plaza.

Booking

The registration deadline for this event has now passed. If you have any queries, please contact our Information Officer Alexia Claydon on info@bearr.org.

BEARR’s lectures are open to all and free to attend. However, the annual lecture is BEARR’s main fundraising event. We are therefore asking guests for a suggested donation of £20 per person, £10 for full-time students and jobseekers, or more if you are able.  

You must register your attendance via our Eventbrite page by Friday 10 March.

  • If you wish to donate but are not eligible for Gift Aid, please make your donation through Eventbrite – this will ensure your registration and you do not need to further register for a free ticket. 
  • If you wish to donate and are eligible for Gift Aid, please register for a free ticket through Eventbrite make your donation via our CAF Donate Page here.
  • If you are not able to make a donation, please register for a free ticket. 

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