Khairul Alam; Dbarta24— Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will deliver a maiden address at the upcoming annual international fact-checking forum, “Dialog about Fakes 4.0,” scheduled to take place on September 22 at the “Russia” National Centre in Moscow.
The high-level appearance was officially announced by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during a press briefing at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
The foreign minister’s direct involvement highlights how counter-disinformation efforts and information verification have increasingly moved to the forefront of Moscow’s international diplomatic agenda.
“This year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will participate in the forum for the first time. I want to remind everyone that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been supporting the forum and the fact-checking association in general for several years now. However, the head of the foreign ministry will be attending for the first time, ensuring an appropriately high-level representation. The Russian Foreign Minister’s address underscores the forum’s elevated international standing and the critical importance that countering disinformation has taken on today.”— Maria Zakharova, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Global Participation and Organizational Scope
The “Dialog about Fakes” forum has been held annually in Moscow since its inception in 2023.
It is jointly organized by the autonomous non-profit organization “Dialog Regions” alongside the international association Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN).
The conference gained notable international traction during its 2025 edition, which was held under the auspices of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
The upcoming 2026 iteration is expected to host more than 2,000 guests hailing from over 80 countries.
Around 70 experts—spanning investigative journalism, independent fact-checking, information technology, and public administration—are scheduled to deliver presentations and lead panel discussions.
Organizers are placing a strategic focus on expanding international outreach, with a particular emphasis on deepening connections across the Asia-Pacific region (APR).
“We would especially like to invite representatives of Asia-Pacific countries to participate in this forum: expanding cooperation with them remains one of the association’s top priorities in international engagement.”— Maria Zakharova, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Focus on AI, Deepfakes, and Digital Threats
A primary agenda item for the 4.0 edition of the forum will focus on combatting fake news generated by rapidly evolving neural networks and synthetic media.
As access to advanced artificial intelligence tools accelerates worldwide, organizers emphasize the urgency of crafting new technological and regulatory safeguards to preserve information integrity.
“The forum remains exceptionally relevant. Why? Because the volume of fakes — including those generated using artificial intelligence — continues to grow exponentially, while the Western mainstream media actively utilizes them in disinformation campaigns targeted, among others, against our country.”— Maria Zakharova, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Looking Ahead
As synthetic media threats evolve, Moscow aims to position the “Dialog about Fakes 4.0” forum as a premier global platform for non-Western perspectives on digital verification and cybersecurity.
With high-level state representation and wide international attendance, the event will examine how emerging technologies shape public perception and modern geopolitical discourse.