Russia's International Festival of Youth

Russia's state-backed International Festival of Youth brought 10,000 young people aged 14-35 from 190 countries to Yekaterinburg.

Steven Seagal's Putin Support

Steven Seagal, an American-born actor and Putin supporter, called Putin his 'biggest hero' at the festival.

“Russia, we’re not interested in conquering anybody. We’re just interested in protecting our borders and our people.”

State-Sponsored Propaganda

The festival was sponsored by Russia's state-owned companies including Rosatom and Sberbank, with TASS and RT as information partners.

Propaganda Focus

The festival's website claims borders are blurred and cultures work together to make the world a better place.

“Here, borders are blurred, and cultures and professional communities come together to work towards a common goal, to make the world a better place.”

Artem Zhoga's Panel

Artem Zhoga, a military officer who participated in Ukraine invasion, spoke about deepfakes and quoting words out of context.

“Artem Zhoga is a military officer who participated in the invasion of Ukraine and is increasingly part of the country’s power structure.”

Festival's Propaganda Claims

The festival claims interaction among 10,000 participants creates a natural fact-checking mechanism against misinformation.

“The festival itself 'is a tool against fakes,' claiming that 'interaction among around 10,000 participants from different parts of Russia and the world creates a natural fact-checking mechanism.'”

Attendees' Social Media

International attendees shared social media content proclaiming Russia as open and welcoming, with videos of festival merch.

“I met a different Russia than the media talks about. To me, Russia is an experience that stays with you and never leaves.”

Internet Access for Foreigners

Foreign attendees received unrestricted internet access to share festival content globally, while domestic attendees did not.

“Foreign guests received unrestricted internet access so they could promote the festival to audiences in other countries.”

Soviet Legacy

The festival has roots in Soviet-era efforts to improve international reputation after military interventions.

“The 1957 World Youth Festival of Youth and Students took place during a Khrushchev-era thaw in the Cold War.”