Report
Lithuania Monthly: Elections Draw Intense Focus from Kremlin-Aligned Media
In October, Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media honed in on the parliamentary elections, amplifying anti-government sentiment. Articles portrayed the ruling parties as disconnected from citizens’ economic hardships, questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process and casting the leadership as ineffective. This coverage aligned with broader narratives critiquing Lithuania’s Western alliances and economic policies.
Weekly Reports
Latvia Weekly: False Claims About Food Parcel Proposal
Two separate disinformation narratives emerged in Latvia. First, false claims about a reform that would lead to food parcels for the poor containing bad quality food. Second, false claims circulated about Trump supposedly cutting US government spending by 30% and about alleged US admissions regarding chemical weapons labs in Ukraine.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Discredits Lithuanian Elections Amid Controversial Coalition Formation
Former President Dalia Grybauskaitė faced backlash for warning against a coalition with the controversial “Nemuno aušra” party, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who is accused of antisemitism. Despite her concerns, the Social Democrats formed the coalition, which Kremlin-aligned outlets used as an opportunity to attack Grybauskaitė’s credibility, accusing her of Kremlin sympathies and discrediting her past political affiliations.
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Latvia Weekly: Misleading Narratives Following Trump’s Victory
Kremlin-aligned disinformation channels and Latvian conspiracy theorists both exploited Trump’s US election victory to spread misleading narratives. The pro-Kremlin channels suggested Trump as president would abandon Latvia’s defense, and made false claims about him stopping liberal policies. Latvian conspiracy theorists portrayed Trump as defeating “globalists” and hoped his win would aid their own anti-globalist fight in Latvia. They also undermined trust in independent media and experts for failing to predict Trump’s victory.
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Estonia Weekly: Trump’s Election Inspires Kremlin Supporters
Some pro-Kremlin narratives emerged in the Estonian information space in response to the recent US presidential elections, with some voices advocating the normalization of US-Russian relations. Constitutional amendments proposed by the Estonian government could deprive Russian and Belarusian citizens of the right to vote, leading to accusations of failed integration and potential radicalization.
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Monthly Reports
Lithuania Monthly: Elections Draw Intense Focus from Kremlin-Aligned Media
In October, Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media honed in on the parliamentary elections, amplifying anti-government sentiment. Articles portrayed the ruling parties as disconnected from citizens’ economic hardships, questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process and casting the leadership as ineffective. This coverage aligned with broader narratives critiquing Lithuania’s Western alliances and economic policies.
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Latvia Monthly: Opposition Leader Questions NATO Support and Criticizes National Spending
In response to the Shahed drone crash in Latvia, opposition leader Ainārs Šlesers raises concerns about NATO’s response and criticizes Latvia’s spending on projects like Rail Baltica and Green Deal policies. The post sparked high engagement on social media, with many comments supporting Šlesers’ view that Latvia should prioritize security and claiming the West is to blame for the ongoing conflict, not Russia.
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Estonia Monthly: Controversy Over Voting Rights Sparks Accusations of Russophobia
A heated debate emerged in Estonia over proposed changes to voting rights for non-citizens, particularly affecting Russians living in the country. Articles and social media posts fueled claims that the Estonian government was intentionally making life harder for Russian residents.
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Lithuania Monthly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Spins Kursk Operation to Stoke Anti-Western Sentiment
September saw an uptick in Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media activity, with Ukraine-related topics and anti-government narratives dominating the disinformation landscape. A particularly heated controversy emerged after television presenter Algis Ramanauskas made inflammatory remarks about Russian-speaking communities, which sparked public outrage and further fueled the narrative of ethnic tension.
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