This year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, while themed around a “multipolar” world, has seen Russia seek to show its technological and economic sovereignty after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine cut it off from its onetime business partners in the West.
Here are photos from the first three days of the event:
A forum participant wearing virtual reality glasses.
Yevgeny Fedoskov / Roscongress Photobank
Members of the Taliban delegation attending the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Last month, Russian officials moved toward removing the Islamist militant movement that controls Afghanistan from its list of banned “extremist” groups.
TASS
Putin at a meeting with heads of international news agencies on Wednesday evening.
During the press conference, he argued that Moscow could arm countries with long-range weapons to attack Western targets after Western countries allowed Ukraine to strike at targets inside Russia.
Valentina Pevtsova / Roscongress Photobank
Russian-made Lada cars on display at the Expoforum convention and exhibition center.
Yelena Stadnichenko / Roscongress Photobank
A humanoid robot at the booth of Dobrodel, a platform with information about digital public services in the Moscow region.
Alexei Alexandronok / Roscongress Photobank
Putin’s younger daughter Katerina Tikhonova (on screen) speaks at a session via video link.
Yelena Stadnichenko / Roscongress Photobank
Forum attendees at the VinoGrad wine-tasting zone.
Yelena Stadnichenko / Roscongress Photobank
Forum participants at the Russian Boxing Federation’s stand.
Yevgeny Fedoskov / Roscongress Photobank
The “Healthy Fatherland” stand.
Yelena Stadnichenko / Roscongress Photobank
At the Zasport company’s stand, an attendee holds up a T-shirt with Putin’s quote “If a fight is inevitable, you have to strike first.”
Sergei Kulakov / Roscongress Photobank
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Sergei Kulakov / Roscongress Photobank
Far-right ideologue Alexander Dugin speaking at the session on “Philosophy and Geopolitics of a Multipolar World.”
Yelena Ignatieva / Roscongress Photobank
A forum attendee with a bear mascot.
Anna Aleksashkina / Roscongress Photobank
A model walks in SPIEF’s fashion show.
Sergei Shinov / Roscongress Photobank
The fashion show at the forum.
Sergei Shinov / Roscongress Photobank
During his plenary speech, Putin claimed that countries across the globe are racing to “strengthen their sovereignty” amid Western nations’ efforts to “maintain their elusive role as hegemons.”
Vyacheslav Viktorov / Roscongress Photobank
Forum attendees.
Sergei Otroshko / Roscongress Photobank
Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who moved to St. Petersburg last year and famously danced with Putin at her wedding in 2018, signs a copy of her book for Maria Zakharova.
Sergei Kulakov / Roscongress Photobank
An animated Arctic fox at Gazprom Neft’s stand.
Vyacheslav Prokofiev / Roscongress Photobank
Forum participants.
Kirill Kazatchkov / Roscongress Photobank
(C)THE MOSCOW TIMES 2024
Enjoy the show………………………..
Interesting to see a backwards country where more than half of the population still uses outhouses, yet hosts an annual economic forum. I wonder how many attended if you don’t count 3rd world nations?
Those Taliban at that conference, that’s the future of Russia! With native Russians killed in huge numbers in Ukraine, the country will have to rely more and more on dubious migrants from impoverished islamic states. However, as a positive side effect, this will reduce enthusiasm about Putin among rightwing Europeans. Not any better than irresponsible leftwing politicians, that jerk. 🙄
The Nazis will always suck ruskies’ dongs as long as the ruble rolls, Mr. Gray.