Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, has stated that his son's family foundation financed a trip to Russia for Tommy Robinson, the British far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. In an interview with the Guardian, Errol Musk confirmed that he accompanied Robinson to Moscow last month, where they held meetings with Russian business figures. The journey was covered by the Musk Foundation, a private philanthropic organization founded by Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk.
Robinson's Moscow Visit and Anti-Migration Calls
During his stay in Moscow, Robinson issued video messages urging supporters to protest after a knife attack in Belfast, sharing footage from a luxury hotel. This marked his first visit to Russia in several years, and he was notably more explicit in his praise for the country, including sharing clips of Russian ultra-nationalists rallying in memory of murdered British teenager Henry Nowak. Upon returning to Britain, police stopped and seized Robinson's phones.
Errol Musk's Defense of Robinson
Errol Musk described Robinson as "a fine young man" who is "very hotheaded, but at the same time, he's learning." The elder Musk, a self-described Russophile who has previously met Vladimir Putin, holds strong pro-Russian views on the Ukraine conflict and believes Russia has a "genetic advantage" over the West. He said topics discussed during the Moscow meetings included Russia's efforts to address declining birth rates. Errol Musk added that he first contacted Robinson after the activist was imprisoned for contempt of court.
Broader Russian Outreach to Far-Right Figures
Robinson's visit coincided with Russia hosting Andrew Tate and his brother, who posted footage of themselves with apparent Russian military personnel. The Guardian previously reported that Mark Collett, founder of the far-right group Patriotic Alternative, spoke at a summit of European nationalist groups in St. Petersburg convened by a Putin-linked oligarch.
Expert Analysis on Hybrid Warfare
Professor Stephan Lewandowsky of the University of Bristol, who studies misinformation, said the visits by Robinson and Tate occur within Russia's hybrid war against the West. "Part of that means he will recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within," Lewandowsky said, adding that there is a pragmatic reason for Russia to forge such links, alongside ideological alignment among ultra-nationalists.
Robinson's Praise for Russia
Last month, Robinson told the Guardian that after visiting Russia, he had come to see the "beauty of a civilised society."
