Russian Military Studies Centre

That this House commends the work of the Russian Military Studies Centre (RMSC) at the Defence Academy of the UK (DefAc UK), particularly during time of heightened tension with the Russian Federation; notes that it contains one of the most extensive catalogues of papers, journals, books and other resources regarding military and security policy not only of the Russian Federation and the USSR, but of other former Soviet Republics, with publications predominantly in Russian and English, but also in the languages of Eastern Europe and Central Asia; further notes that the RMSC’s holding has been built up over 70 years, originating in the Soviet Studies Research Centre (SSRC) based at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; notes that following the end of the Cold War the SSRC became the Conflict Studies Research Centre (CSRC), and moved to DefAc UK in 2004; regretfully notes that the CSRC collection was almost disbanded before passing over to the care of the Barrington Library which augmented that collection with materials from the School of Languages at the Ministry of Defence; is disappointed that despite this outstanding pedigree and proven research record supporting the UK’s Armed Forces and others, that the future of the RMSC remains unclear; and is concerned to note that staff previously employed at the archive have not had their contracts renewed since September 2021, while the Ministry of Defence undertakes a study on the future of the RMSC.