Who the Kremlin brought to SPIEF 2026: marginal politicians, conspiracy theorists, and Russia’s “useful guests”

In an attempt to convince its domestic audience that Russia is not isolated, the forum’s organizers were forced to invite far-right figures, Eurosceptics, and influencers with criminal backgrounds to "represent the West," praise Russia’s "traditional values," and echo narratives beneficial to the Kremlin. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has been held by Russia since 1997. Initially, it was a purely Russian forum hosted at the Tauride Palace and conceived as a ...