Unicorns and foreign agents: Kremlin puts on investment show amid crackdown

Against a backdrop of domestic political turmoil, Russia puts on a show to attract foreign investors, reports Oliver Carroll in St Petersburg

A stand at the forum (Oliver Carroll)

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia’s primary investor event, opened on Thursday to the usual fanfare of overweight executives, siliconed escorts, and exotic-sounding breakout sessions.

The “world’s largest post-pandemic meeting” offered a flavour to suit every suit: from “Russian investment unicorns” to “Fighting Covid” and “Connecting Our Brains to Computers”.

But starting it all was a session devoted to the Kremlin’s controversial new media policies, hosted by the Russian foreign ministry’s Maria Zakharova. The assertive spokesperson, hardly known for subtlety, titled her session right on brand: "Foreign Media Agents in Russia.”