The arrival of British-American social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan in Russia has drawn criticism from figures across the country's political spectrum, from Kremlin critics to pro-government commentators and nationalist bloggers.
The Tate brothers, self-described misogynists who face criminal charges in Romania and Britain, rose to fame as members of the “manosphere,” a loose network of online communities united by an opposition to feminism and the belief that society is biased against men.
Their arrival in Moscow sparked speculation that they could attend this week's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
According to the Kommersant business daily, the Tates’ itinerary includes meetings with business leaders, media representatives, figures from the educational and cultural sectors and “filming content for an international audience.”
“We came to Russia because serious countries deserve to be taken seriously. I want to meet people, see how the country functions, understand how people live, and talk about it based on what I’ve actually seen with my own eyes,” said Andrew Tate.
