To whom it may concern: It is time to reconsider your Valdai club membership

In 1787, Catherine II traveled to “southern provinces” of the Russian empire, i.e. Ukrainian lands. On her way, she observed nice villages, beautiful cities and happy people who were dancing and singing. The Tsarine and her foreign guests were amazed. Later they found out that all of it was fake – decorations built and actors hired by Catherine’s lover Potemkin.

Since then, the term “Potemkin village” is used to describe large-scale window-dressing. It came to English directly from the Russian language because there is no English-language analogue. Of course, lies, deception and hypocrisy can be found in any country, but Russia is especially good at masking its aggressive imperial nature behind a captivating facade of culture, “liberals” and space programs. Even in the 21st century, many people cling to this facade, unwilling to face reality.

To make its cover-up more effective, Russia relies on foreign intellectuals. The club of prominent “Russia enthusiasts” helping deceive their fellow citizens is very impressive — from Voltaire, Leibnitz, Albert Einstein and Bernard Shaw to Elon Musk, Jeffrey Sachs and scores of others. These individuals are often engaged through invitations to exclusive clubs, fostering a sense of exceptionalism and community membership. A leading example is the Valdai Discussion Club, the significance of which is underscored by the presence of Putin and other high-ranking officials at its annual meetings.

The Valdai club has held meetings every year since 2004, and its meetings have served to unabashedly whitewash Russia’s military aggression. In September 2008, after the Russian invasion of Georgia, club members discussed “Russia’s role in global geopolitical revolution.” In October 2014, after Russia first invaded Ukraine, the topic was “the new world order.” In October 2022, the discussion centered on “A Post-Hegemonic World: Justice and Security for Everyone” — at a time when Russia was preparing to destroy the Ukrainian energy system while regularly threatening Europe with nuclear strikes. Despite the event’s very unusual interpretation of “justice” and “security”,  many people attended the four-day conference, supporting Russia’s actions and whitewashing Russia’s fascist regime with their presence. It is no wonder that the Valdai club is run by people with many years of experience within the Russian state propaganda machine.

Upon examining the Valdai club network, one is struck by the wealth of social and intellectual capital it has amassed. The list includes well-known academics, current and former diplomats, high-level politicians, and members of international organizations, businesses, and NGOs from around the world (Figures 1 and 2). These people represent many reputable organizations, including Oxford and Harvard, Chatham House, the Brookings Institution, Bruegel, the European Commission, and the United Nations. The question arises: why do these individuals appear to be associated with the Valdai Club, as indicated by the club’s website?

Some of them, such as John Mearsheimer (University of Chicago), Alastair Crooke (former British diplomat) and Richard Sakwa (University of Kent), actively disseminate Russian narratives and thus belong to the Russian influence network, which also includes Tucker Carlson. Some people in diplomatic positions, such as the UN Secretary General Antonio Gutterres or ambassadors to Russia, may find it difficult to decline involvement due to the principles of “dialogue” and “pursuit of diplomatic solutions.” For those who now openly support Ukraine, their Valdai Club association could be a legacy mention stemming from prior collaboration with Russia (notably, many of these individuals’ latest contributions to the Valdai Club website date back to 2013). Additionally, it is plausible that some individuals were listed as Valdai Club contributors without their consent or knowledge.

If you fall into one of the two latter categories, you may inadvertently be participating in the whitewashing of Russian aggression. Here is what you need to do in order to avoid playing a part in Putin’s Potemkin village:

• Check your name among Valdai club “contributors” either on their website or in this document;
• Email the Valdai club administration and ask to be removed from the website ([email protected]);
• Fill out this form to let us know you requested removal. We will use this list to create additional public pressure on the Valdai Club;
• If you see your colleagues or friends among the “contributors,” please send them this letter, as they may not be aware of their “affiliation”, and encourage them to likewise request official removal.

Belonging to this club (or any initiatives in support of the Russian regime) is no longer an option for people who believe that principles of international law and “never again” should be restored.