Capital's Russian revolution

Published on Friday 16 December 2005 12:44

SOARING numbers of Russians coming to Edinburgh's schools and universities has seen the number of Russian speakers in the city grow by 20 per cent.

It is now estimated that there are around 5000 Russian speakers in the Capital, with growing numbers of people speaking the language from EU accession countries coming to Edinburgh also contributing to the rise.

Many rich Russians are also now being attracted to Edinburgh, where they are snapping up expensive properties and sending their children to private schools.

The Russian Consulate has no figures for the numbers of Russian-speakers in the Capital, but says that the majority who have come to Edinburgh are from Ukraine and other Eastern countries who have recently joined the European Union.

Nikita Matkovski, the senior consul at the Russian Consulate in Edinburgh, said: "The Russians that come here tend to be people that have particular expertise looked for by institutions in the area. Most of them will be involved in specialist technology and sciences.

"There has also been a 25 per cent increase in the number of Russian students at secondary boarding schools and secondary schools in Scotland. Scotland is well-known in Russia as a place to get a good education."

Russian Edinburgh, a local charity that provides Russian language courses for Russian- speaking children in the Capital, estimates there are around 5000 speakers in Edinburgh.

It says the recent growth has made it difficult to satisfy the demand for its classes. Irina Ginns, a spokeswoman for the charity, said: "People want to come here because they get offered good jobs at the universities in Edinburgh, want to study or get offered a scholarship.

"Scientists in particular are in high demand and they bring their families along with young children and that increases numbers."

Ms Ginns was speaking ahead of a celebration of the Russian New Year, which will take place tomorrow in the City Chambers. Representatives attending will include the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council, the Russian and Ukrainian Consulates, the Scotland-Russia Forum and Deputy Lord Provost Steve Cardownie.

Steppes in the right direction

OLGA DEMYANOVA had struggled by in Moscow on low earnings for many years, and when her husband was offered a top job at Heriot-Watt University she had no fears of uprooting her family.

Olga, 33, and her husband, Vasily, 35, were part of the influx of Russians into the Capital in recent years, after Mr Demyanov was offered the post as a researcher in statistics two years ago.

They say they have found it easy to settle in Ratho. Their oldest child, Lev, six, attends Ratho Primary School and their other son, Peter, three, is looking forward to starting soon.

Ms Demyanova said: "Life is much more comfortable here. We love living in Edinburgh."