Photo opportunity, 1.30pm, Friday, November 1, 1st floor conference suite, Tower Building, University of Dundee.
Key figures from Russian politics will visit Dundee on Friday November 1 as part of an exchange project aimed at developing their country's parliamentary democracy.
The unique programme, initiated by the University of Dundee, will bring seven representatives from the Russian State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) and the Tver Regional Assembly to the city to explore how local politicians work in their constituencies. The delegation will also visit the City Council to learn about how its local elections are run, and attend a politics seminar at the University.
A civic lunch will be held in the City Chambers at noon, hosted by the Lord Provost and attended by Iain Luke MP, John McAllion MSP, Dundee Labour councillor Neil Glen and project organiser Dr Cameron Ross from the University's Politics Department.
The visit has been funded by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy following an application from Dr Ross.
Since Monday, the Russian delegation has already visited the Houses of Parliament in London and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where the delegates met and exchanged ideas with several UK politicians including Labour MP David Hamilton, SNP MSP Alex Neil and Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon.
The London, Edinburgh and Dundee visits have been designed to cover three key areas - election rules and procedures, the work of MPs in their local constituencies and a comparison of Russian federalism and British devolution.
Dr Ross explained the objectives of the project: "The exchange aims to promote the broadening and deepening of democracy in Russia and develop cultural, economic and friendship ties between MSP and MPs and members of the Russian Parliament, Moscow City Duma and the Tver Regional Assembly.
"At a time when voter apathy is strong in Britain, we also wish to discuss the practical ways in which parliaments in both countries can more effectively reach out and engage with their citizens and increase electoral turnout at national and local levels."
British participants in the exchange will visit Russia in May/June next year.
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk