Business programme

The perception of our country among the masses, as well as the theme of communication within our borders and internationally, have become increasingly important in the 21st century. What can counter the proliferation of fakes, efforts to erase Russian history and culture, and aggressive propaganda by the West in Russia and beyond? How can we safeguard historical truth and establish an alternative agenda rooted in traditional values and reliable knowledge? One potential avenue for effective communication could be through the promotion of humanitarian values that have consistently united people – culture, art, sports, and humanitarian cooperation.

Moderators
Maxim Dreval, General Director, Russian "Znanie" Society
Vladimir Medinskiy, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; Chairman, Russian Military Historical Society

Maxim Dreval

General Director, Russian "Znanie" Society

Vladimir Medinskiy

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; Chairman, Russian Military Historical Society

Panellists
Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Karin Kneissl, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria (2017–2019)
Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Alexander Khinshtein, Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications

Maria Zakharova

Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Born December 24, 1975, in Moscow
Graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1998 in the field of international journalism. Has the diplomatic rank of Envoy extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the first class.
Joined the Russian Foreign Ministry after graduation. Worked as an editor of the monthly magazine “Diplomatic bulletin”. Acted as the head of the Media operational monitoring department of the Information and Press Department. Worked as Head of the press service of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York from 2005 to 2008. Held various positions in the Central Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2011. Worked as Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2015.
Appointed Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2015.
Candidate of Historical Sciences.
Member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy of Russia, a member of the Board of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaks English and Chinese fluently.

Karin Kneissl

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria (2017–2019)

Valery Falkov

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Born 18 October 1978 in Tyumen, Russia.
1995–2003 – Studied Law at the University of Tyumen, PhD in Law.
2003–2012 – Occupied various positions (Department Head, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Law, Vice-Rector for Additional Education, Director of the Institute of Law, Economics, and Management) at the University of Tyumen.
2012–2020 – Rector of the University of Tyumen.
2006–2013 – Member of the Tyumen Region Election Commission with a casting vote.
2009–2011 – Chairman of the Tyumen Region Council of Young Scholars and Specialists.
2013–2016 – Deputy of the Tyumen City Duma, Chairman of the Standing Commission for Urban Development and Land Use.
2016–2020 – Deputy of the Tyumen Regional Duma, Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy.
2015–2020 – Council of University Rectors of Tyumen Region.
21 January 2020 – Appointed Minister of Science and Higher Education by the President of the Russian Federation.
Awards and Honours:
Certificate of Honour from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (2003); Tyumen Regional Duma Honorary Badge (2009); Certificate of Honour from the Governor of Tyumen Region (2013); Diploma from the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation (2014); Certificate of Appreciation from the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ural Federal District (2015); Certificate of Appreciation from the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (2017).

Alexander Khinshtein

Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications