British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, traveled to Moscow last month with financial backing from the Musk Foundation, according to Errol Musk, the father of billionaire X owner Elon Musk. Errol Musk, who accompanied Robinson during the visit, confirmed that the trip was covered by the private philanthropic organization established by his sons, Elon and Kimbal Musk.
During his time in Moscow, Robinson appeared in videos filmed at a luxury hotel alongside the elder Musk. From Russia, the activist issued calls for supporters to demonstrate in Britain following a knife attack in Belfast. Upon his return to the UK, police intercepted Robinson and seized his phones. While Robinson had visited Russia years prior, his recent trip included explicit praise for the country and saw him sharing footage of ultra-nationalist rallies held in memory of Henry Nowak, a murdered British teenager.
Errol Musk described Robinson as a “fine young man” who is “hotheaded” but currently learning. The South African, who has previously traveled to Russia and met with Vladimir Putin, expressed pro-Russian views, suggesting the country holds a “genetic advantage” over the West. He noted that their meetings in Russia included discussions on the nation’s efforts to address declining birth rates, adding that Robinson was actively engaged in these sessions.
The visit occurred amid a period where the Putin regime appears to be cultivating ties with various European far-right figures. During the same timeframe, Russia also hosted Andrew Tate, a self-styled misogynistic influencer, and his brother, who shared footage of themselves with the Russian military. Errol Musk also participated in a Kremlin-backed economic forum held in St Petersburg during his visit.
Prof Stephan Lewandowsky of the University of Bristol, an expert on misinformation, described these visits as part of a hybrid war waged by Putin against the West. He argued that Russia is pragmatically recruiting figures to undermine Western democracy, noting an ideological alignment between the Kremlin and these far-right personalities. This follows previous reports that Mark Collett, founder of the British group Patriotic Alternative, also spoke at a Russian summit for extreme nationalist groups organized by an oligarch linked to Putin.
“Part of that means he will recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within, whether that is Robinson, the Tates or others involved in more conventional politics,” he said. “There is a pragmatic reason for the Russians to be making links like this.
