Profil (Moscow) - June 19, 2006

No sooner had the Russian delegation to an RBC conference in Stockholm stepped off the plane, picked up their bags and turned on their cell phones, than the latest news began to pour in from back home. "Moscow Echo" radio station reported that Abramovich had bought Kommersant. "This is a provocation," claimed Alexei Venediktov. "The report was aired as soon as I boarded the plane." Nevertheless, he could not but dial Abramovich's cell number, "Hey, Roma… yes, Roma… I see, Roma… Of course, I will see to it." "He is not buying, he is not interested," asserted Venediktov after receiving his message from the Governor of Chukotka. Those around him looked on with unconcealed jealousy and admiration. That evening, forum participants gathered together for a "Nobel-prize" dinner. On the menu were dishes that had been served at the reception commemorating the very first Nobel prizewinners in 1901. It seemed "a little bland" to the spoiled Russian taste. Only Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko said he liked everything very much. A real diplomat, the others thought. RBC President and the brains behind the forum Yury Rovensky wished the guests not only a good rest, but also plenty of productive work. MICEX chief Alexander Potyomkin followed this advice straight away. Instead of telling jokes, he began conveying to the cute blonds who had flocked around him the idea of making money on the stock market. While Potyomkin was revealing secrets, lawyer Pavel Astakhov and his wife Svetlana lent themselves to reminiscing about how they first met. It happened at the Federal Security Service Academy, where the future lawyer and television host was studying. The couple have not parted ways ever since. Mr. Astakhov has been learning Swedish, and is now more fluent than any native speaker. He could also give guided tours of Stockholm, though this was his first time there.

The forum's main high-society event was a reception at the Russian Embassy in connection with the Day of Russia. The guests were welcomed at the entrance by Ambassador Alexander Kadakin, "Well, finally I get to meet Mr. & Mrs. Astakhov in real life, because all I ever do is watch you on TV all the time." The national anthem began to play. The Russians sang the Soviet version of it, and then went to be seated at dinner tables where meatballs were already being served, the food for which Karlsson, the children's book character, was willing to go to great lengths. It is not surprising, because Swedish meatballs are by tradition served with the most delicious cranberry sauce. By the way, the hunt for Karlsson became a real problem for forum participants, since they could not find him sold in any souvenir shops. There were trolls, deer and Pippi Longstockings of all varieties, but no Karlssons! Everyone concluded that the politically correct Swedes could not allow their national hero to be "a man in his prime" befriending a little boy…

The person who had the most fun was the Central Bank's Deputy Chairman Tatyana Paramonova. "You, my darling little ones…," she would say addressing a group of financiers, who would then take turns to salute her with a kiss on the hand. Another grand dame of the banking business, Sberbank Deputy CEO Bella Zlatkis, also shone with glamour in her haute-couture dress. She, on the other hand, spent most of her time in the company of her friend, fur clothes designer Elena Yarmak. As for men, Union of Right Forces (SPS) leader Boris Nemtsov was unmatched. When he spoke about how the hryvnia was gaining momentum against the ruble, girls sighed dreamily. But Nemtsov, as far-sighted as he is, came to Stockholm prepared. He was accompanied by his partner and mother of his youngest daughter, Irina Korolyova. What is even more intriguing is that Nemtsov's old London flame, sharp-tongued society columnist Bozhena Rynska, happened to be at the forum as well. As a result, the politician did not appear at practically any other public function after that. He only stopped by the reception at the Embassy for a few minutes and then left to have dinner with Sergei Glazyev. The latter also had female company in Stockholm.

At the same time, those guests unencumbered by family set out for some vodka in glasses made of ice at Stockholm's famous ice bar. The most unwavering of them were still not finished celebrating the Day of Russia even after a light frostbite. Along with SPS leader Nikita Belykh, they later went out to dinner at a local pub. The evening ended with Soviet poetry readings. Venediktov, already reminiscing about the ice bar, recited a poem by David Samoylov about a little boy with a sore throat. Bozhena, who was probably remembering Nemtsov's cold heart, echoed him with poetry by Konstantin Simonov addressed to the love of his life, actress Valentina Serova. Even Nemtsov's counterpart, SPS leader Nikita Belykh, surrendered to some emotion, concluding with poetry from Gennady Shpalikov about never looking back to the past. It is worth mentioning here that he was drinking nonalcoholic beer.

Nemtsov left a day early. Meanwhile, the conference participants had finished discussing the Russian economy and were down to just leisure. If at the latest London economic forum guests were reported to have escaped from a famous dinner reception, the Russian Rhapsody, only to reappear as they were, in their evening dresses and tuxedos, at a concert by Russian punk rock group Leningrad, it was quite the opposite at the RBC forum. Right after a concert by Bratya Grim, the guests headed to Otkritie Brokerage chief Badry Gobechia's birthday party. The celebration, however, began earlier that afternoon at a Japanese restaurant, where Gobechia arrived in the company of six girls and Venediktov. Moscow Echo's Editor-in-Chief was as always forethoughtful. Knowing about his friend's love of women, he gave him a meaningful present: a bouquet of six Barbie dolls encircled in white flowers. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend, and girls are Badry's best friends," Venediktov concluded.