Agenda
Over the course of two days, this convening will bring together Russian civil society leaders, activists, journalists, and human rights defenders alongside American experts and policymakers for in-depth discussion and dialogue. Sessions will address the challenges facing the Putin regime, trends in Russian public opinion, the state of independent media and civil society, and Russia's evolving role on the world stage.
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
| TIME | PROGRAM |
|---|---|
| 8:00-9:00 a.m. | Registration and Coffee |
| 9:00-9:45 a.m. | Welcome and Framing Damon Wilson, National Endowment for Democracy Matthew Rojansky, US-Russia Foundation Natalia Arno, Free Russia Foundation Petra Bayr, President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on European Future of Russia |
| 9:45-10:45 a.m. | Civil Society’s Response to Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine: Human Rights Defense, Humanitarian Action, and Frameworks for Transitional Justice Moderator: Damon Wilson, National Endowment for Democracy |
| 10:45-11:00 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | The Russian War Machine and the Axis of Authoritarian Enablers Moderator: Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Center for a New American Security (CNAS) |
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | LUNCH |
| 1:00-1:30 p.m. | Аусвайс and Russian Society’s Moral Imperative to Act |
| 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Society at the Time of War: Understanding Russian Public Opinion and Expressions of Dissent Moderator: Daniel Treisman, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Knowledge Without Borders: Russian Academic Resilience and Democratic Renewal Moderator: Jonathan Becker, Bard College |
| 3:30-3:45 p.m. | Coffee Break |
| 3:45-4:45 p.m. | Keeping the Pressure On: Russia’s Wartime Economy and the Future of Sanctions Moderator: Amb. Dan Fried, Atlantic Council |
| 4:45-5:45 p.m. | Protecting Democratic Voices in Exile: Countering Russian Transnational Repression Moderator: Marcus Kolga, DisInfo Watch |
| 6:30 p.m. | Reception Co-Hosted with Freedom House featuring music by Noize MC |
DAY 2: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
| TIME | PROGRAM |
|---|---|
| 8:00-9:00 a.m. | Registration and Coffee |
| 9:00-9:15 a.m. | Welcome Remarks Miriam Lanskoy, National Endowment for Democracy |
| 9:15-10:15 a.m. | Confronting the Regime's Domestic Repression: Political Prisoners, Accountability, and International Response Moderator: Jamie Fly, Freedom House |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. | God, Nation, Empire: How the Kremlin Weaponizes “Traditional Values” Moderator: Carrie Filipetti, Vandenberg Coalition |
| 11:15-11:30 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Russia’s Digital Gulag: Censorship, the Sovereign Internet and the Fight to Stay Connected Moderator: Laura Cunningham, Open Technology Fund |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:00 p.m. | Scene Setter: CEPA Report on Russian Independent Media in Exile Lightning Talks: Independent Media and Book Publishers on Reaching Audiences Inside Russia |
| 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Voices of Freedom: The Enduring Resilience and Impact of the Russian Independent Media Ecosystem Moderator: Damian Murphy, Center for American Progress |
| 3:00-3:45 p.m. | Fireside Chat - Models for Financial Sustainability: Expanding the Base of Support for Russian Civil Society Moderator: Matthew Rojansky, US-Russia Foundation |
| 3:45-4:00 p.m. | Coffee Break |
| 4:00-5:30 p.m. | Cracks in the System: Elections, Elite Tensions, and Russia’s Future Moderator: David Kramer, George W. Bush Institute |
| 5:30-6:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks: Russia’s Democratic Future Natalia Arno, Free Russia Foundation |