SPILF was founded by a reform-era president to showcase the rule of law in Russia. This year’s speakers argued that constitutional rights are the real problem.

This year's St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, founded in 2011 by then-president Dmitry Medvedev to highlight Russia's commitment to the rule of law, saw speakers challenging the very constitutional rights it once aimed to uphold. The event, once a platform for international legal discourse, now features arguments that constitutional rights are the real issue, suggesting a shift in Russia's legal narrative. This development underscores the evolving dynamics within Russia’s legal and political landscape, reflecting broader concerns about the state of constitutional protections in the country.