St Petersburg Economic Forum speakers include child sex offender, conspiracy theorist, and far-right politician

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) takes place 3–6 June, and representatives from over 130 countries are expected to attend. However, the forum's business programme features speakers with scandalous backgrounds, including a convicted former UN weapons inspector, an American woman who spreads conspiracy theories about the French president, and a German far-right politician.

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opens on 3 June and runs until 6 June. Russia's largest business event, often called the "Russian Davos", is expected to be attended by representatives from more than 130 countries. Russian media outlet Bumaga has drawn attention to the fact that the forum's official speaker list includes people with extremely scandalous reputations in their home countries.

Who are the speakers?

One of the most notable names is American conservative commentator Candace Owens, who is widely known for spreading various conspiracy theories. Among other things, Owens has publicly claimed that the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, is a transgender woman — a claim that Brigitte Macron has rejected in court. Owens is also one of the most active media supporters of former US President Donald Trump.

Another prominent speaker is Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector who was convicted of soliciting a minor for sex. Ritter, who was previously known as an expert on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, has become a pro-Russia commentator since his release from prison, regularly appearing on Russia's state propaganda channels.

German far-right in Moscow

A third notable name is Jörg Urban, a representative of Germany's far-right AfD party (Alternative for Germany) from the state of Saxony. The AfD is known in the European Union for its pro-Russia stance and its criticism of the EU and NATO. Urban's participation in SPIEF is no coincidence — the AfD is one of the few Western European parties that has openly opposed military support for Ukraine.

The presence of these speakers at SPIEF speaks volumes about Russia's strategy: to attract Western Kremlin-friendly voices to gain international legitimacy, regardless of how questionable their reputation is in their home countries. The forum has become a platform where marginal Western voices can take centre stage with Moscow's backing.