A prominent figure from the British far-right movement has delivered remarks at a conference in Russia organized by nationalist groups with ties to the country’s political establishment. The event has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about international links between extremist factions and their potential impact on democratic societies.
The forum, held in St. Petersburg, featured Mark Collett, the founder of the UK-based organization Patriotic Alternative. Collett, a long-standing activist within far-right circles, participated remotely, delivering a brief address focused on demographic changes and immigration in Britain. He argued that white Britons risk becoming a minority and cautioned Eastern European nations against similar trends.
The gathering, billed as the inaugural meeting of the International Anti-Globalist League, brought together representatives from various European nationalist and far-right groups. A notable attendee was the Russian ultranationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin, whose philosophies are often cited as influential in Kremlin foreign policy circles.
Political observers in the UK have expressed apprehension regarding such connections. Some parliamentarians view these ties as part of a broader pattern of attempts to destabilize Western democracies and exacerbate social divisions. A member of the defence select committee stated that alliances between domestic extremist groups and foreign actors pose a direct challenge to democratic institutions, suggesting these factions can become vehicles for undermining foundational societal ideas.
In recent years, security services have monitored increased activity attributed to foreign influence operations, ranging from espionage to more covert efforts aimed at sowing discord within communities.
When questioned about his participation, Collett denied any financial or operational links to the Russian state. He characterized suggestions that his group is being utilized by Moscow as baseless. He further expressed a belief that the conflict in Ukraine was escalated by external powers seeking a proxy war, rather than being desired by Russia itself.
The St. Petersburg event was organized under the auspices of the Brotherhood of Academists, a nationalist student movement active in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. Its founder, businessman Konstantin Malofeyev—who has been sanctioned by Western governments and is known for his support of Orthodox Christian causes—publicly endorsed the forum. He described the delegates as united in defending Christian values, national identity, and sovereignty against globalism.
Other participants included several well-known European far-right intellectuals and politicians from France, Switzerland, and Germany.
The involvement of a leading British far-right activist in this international forum has intensified debates about the boundaries of political activism and the extent of foreign networks seeking to influence domestic affairs. It has also led to renewed calls from some quarters for a reassessment of how such groups are monitored and regulated.