Fortune's Nelson Schwartz writes:

Although it hasn't quite reached the proportions of last year's India Everywhere PR campaign (free iPods pre-loaded with Bollywood music), the Russians this year are bulking up their once-limited profile in Davos this time around, with both top biznessmen (i.e. oligarchs) and goverment leaders represented.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy prime minister, is representing the Kremlin, while tycoons like Oleg Deripaska of aluminum giant Rusal and oil oligarch and Faberge egg collector Victor Vekselberg are making the rounds. "The Russian presence has increased dramatically," says William Browder, manager of Russia-focused Hermitage Capital. Browder made headlines last year after the Russian government refused him entry following a routine trip from his then home in Moscow, a likely result of his shareholder activism.

But Browder and anyone else interested in schmoozing the Russians will have plenty of opportunities at a party tomorrow night where the vodka will flow, as well as a big dinner on Friday night. What makes the Russian tycoons different is how powerful they are back home, yet not very well known outside. I ran into the potash king of Russia last night, Dmitry Rybolovev. In classic oligarch style, he lives in Geneva, has his company hq in Moscow, and mines the potash in the Urals. Sure enough, it's his first time in Davos. Maybe this year's conference will make the likes of Rybolovev more prominent.