A long conference in Russian with running English translations. Today it's mostly quasi-official speakers so hard to know how representative. Still a few comments:
1. The principal theme is state sovereignty and the rule of law, which means that the west should stop interfering in Russian affairs. Whatever one thinks of this, if the goal of sanctions, etc. was to get Russia to think more like the west, that isn't happening, at least not at the top.
2. The effect of historical memory is as salient here as in the street. Someone was announced as a war veteran and received prolonged applause. There's a breakout panel on legal innovations resulting from The Great Patriotic War.
3. They don't seem to have gotten the memo on gender equity--not many women on the podium--but a lot more at the younger levels.
All in all the breakfast buffet at Cafe Tchaikovsky, including a full pot of Russian Tea, was a pretty good bet even if cheaper alternatives were available. I'll be back with more tomorrow.
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