Athos Salomé, the self-styled Living Nostradamus, has warned that Russia may attempt to use him as a modern-day Rasputin following his appearance on state-owned Channel One. The Brazilian soothsayer, whose followers claim he correctly predicted the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the outcome of the 2022 World Cup final, spoke with presenter Dmitry Borisov earlier this month.
State TV Invitation Raises Questions
Salomé revealed to the Express that he was invited primarily to discuss his biography and international discovery, as well as to share predictions for Russia. However, he noted a deeper level of interest from the state-owned network. “That alone makes the experience particularly significant and raises interesting questions about the broader context surrounding the invitation,” he said.
Salomé believes the interview echoes the role of Grigori Rasputin, the mystic who befriended Tsar Nicholas II and heavily influenced the imperial family in his final years. He now fears he could be utilised as a Rasputin-like figure by Russian state media to build soft power and legitimise narratives of destiny or technological transition.
Comparisons to Rasputin
Drawing parallels, Salomé explained: “Rasputin gained influence with the imperial family through his ability to heal, advise, and intervene in personal situations. Salomé, although not in a declared institutional position, becomes an interlocutor – or is intended as such – for audiences covering political, media, and diplomatic spheres.”
He added that Rasputin moved between the religious, superstitious, and political, while he himself combines predictions with highly relevant topics such as technology, wars, and global crises. This, he argued, creates a narrative that interests both the lay public and observers of international relations.
Soft Power and Independence
Salomé acknowledged that his proximity to Russia could help build soft power, but stressed he must remain “transparent” and “independent” of outsider influences. “To maintain integrity, I need to be clear about my methods and the sources of my predictions, after all, he will be close to the ‘lord of the world’,” he said.
“Like Rasputin – the mystic who became entangled with the throne – I seem to walk between spirituality and power. Whether I will be remembered as a seer, prophet, or mere media personality will depend not only on what I predict, but on how transparent my discourse is, how independent I remains, and how I react to the political repercussions of his predictions.”
Mysticism in Russia
Salomé also spoke of his time in Russia, noting that many practices linked with mysticism are outlawed by state officials. “Many things in Russia are restricted, and sometimes people misunderstand what I do,” he said. “For example, Satanism is prohibited there, yet paranormality is often mistakenly associated with Satanism, even though they are entirely different things. Because of that, the experience was both fascinating and unique.”
Despite these restrictions, the soothsayer sounded relatively pleased with his Moscow visit. His appearance on Channel One covered predictions for the remainder of 2026, including topics such as artificial intelligence and global crises.
