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by the
Russian Government in 2013. The campaign included a letter signed by 32 Members of Parliament which was submitted to the Honours and Decorations (HD) Committee on Remembrance Day, requesting that the veterans be rewarded with a medal in recognition of the part they played in the vital Arctic
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was Chair of the group that described itself as "an organisation created for those with an interest in
Russian politics, business, history and culture, with the aim of strengthening relations between the British and Russian communities and informing political decision making within both countries."
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The group hosted events in London and at the
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was a founding member. The group's launch gained mixed reviews in the media from proponents and opponents of the conservatives, with some journalists questioning its neutrality.
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group, which claims to promote an open platform to debate various issues such as international diplomacy, energy security and internal political systems.
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The group was officially launched in late 2012 and has since gone on to host numerous events throughout the UK, covering a variety of topics such as
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369:(Penguin Random House 2018) 105. C Cadwalladr, 'Brexit, the ministers, the professor and the spy: how Russia pulls strings in UK' (4 Nov 2017)
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It was active in the campaign calling on the UK Foreign Office to allow
British Arctic Veterans of World War Two to receive the Russian
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572:"Westminster Russia Forum: Ushakov medal presentation ahead of G8 summit | PoliticsHome | Press Release | PoliticsHome"
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At the end of
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general, whose brother also served in the FSB. Nalobin invited the group to hold its launch party in August in the
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The group had several notable
Parliamentarians on its board, including former Defence and Foreign Secretary Sir
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546:"LGBT RIGHTS IN RUSSIA – with guest speakers PETER... | InterLaw Diversity Forum for LGBT Networks"
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141:(WRF) was a UK-wide voluntary organisation, which aimed to promote improved relations with Russia.
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The group successfully campaigned to see
British World War II veterans of the
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510:"I'm a victim of Russian smear campaign, says MP photographed in underwear"
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On 23 November 2012, the group publicly attacked the then chairman of the
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The forum originally launched as
Conservative Friends of Russia in 2012.
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411:"British Arctic Convoys veterans should be rewarded;— UK Edition"
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and its impact upon the relationship between the two countries.
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483:. Word Affairs. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013.
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Spectator article 'Tory pro-Russia lobbying group disbands'
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Russian
Embassy hosts Conservative Friends of Russia
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383:Luke Harding and Nicholas Watt (22 August 2012).
327:Convoy missions throughout the Second World War.
199:Activities of the Conservative Friends of Russia
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665:Organisations based in the City of Westminster
598:"The British Merchant Navy - Old Friends Plus"
367:The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
222:announced that a new medal would be created.
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481:"In Plain Sight: The Kremlin's London Lobby"
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119:Learn how and when to remove this message
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195:MP among its Honorary Vice Presidents.
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57:adding citations to reliable sources
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670:Organizations established in 2012
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508:Rowley, Tom (23 November 2012).
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526:. Shout Out UK. 8 December 2016
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245:Shortly afterwards,
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608:27 November
582:27 November
556:28 November
530:14 December
226:Controversy
189:Nigel Evans
649:Categories
417:15 October
395:15 October
365:T Snyder,
331:References
314:Activities
281:Kensington
258:John Major
205:Pussy Riot
79:newspapers
489:cite news
630:Archived
391:. London
371:Guardian
291:Renaming
191:MP, and
145:History
93:scholar
461:14 May
433:"Home"
236:Labour
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100:JSTOR
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256:and
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