Report
Latvia Monthly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Undermine Baltic Sovereignty
Domestic opposition populist politicians disseminated narratives of institutional persecution and Latvia being undemocratic. At the same time pro-Kremlin channels systematically inverted geopolitical responsibility, reframing Russian military threats as defensive responses to Baltic aggression and portraying NATO membership as hidden subjugation. Together, these narratives construct an alternative reality designed to delegitimize Baltic institutions, weaken NATO cohesion, and normalize Russian regional dominance by suggesting resistance is both futile and illegitimate.
Weekly Reports
Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Exploit Belarus Sanctions Rift
Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania intensified anti-government messaging last week by exploiting political friction over proposed sanctions on Belarus. Commentators praised MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis’ opposition to the measures while mocking Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys’ warnings about hybrid attacks, portraying Lithuanian security concerns as exaggerated. At the same time, the refusal of the Lithuanian Power Award by the “Šilainių sodai” initiative was reframed as an opportunity to attack President Nausėda and reinforce ongoing anti-government narratives.
Read moreLatvia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Mock Baltic Security and Undermine NATO Credibility
The pro-Kremlin “Antifascists of Pribaltics” channel uses mockery and logical inversions to delegitimize Baltic security efforts, falsely claiming Latvia is in NATO, because Russia has “leased” it out and portraying defensive military measures as delusional provocation. By systematically undermining confidence in Baltic defense policies and independence, the channel aims to weaken NATO cohesion and increase Baltic vulnerability to Russian pressure.
Read moreEstonia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Messaging Undermines Support for Ukraine
Pro-Kremlin online commentators pushed anti-Western narratives about Ukraine while Russian-language social media in Estonia largely reacted with initial confusion but cautious optimism to the new Centre Party–Isamaa coalition in Tallinn.
Read moreLithuania Weekly: LRT Becomes New Target of Kremlin-Aligned Disinformation
Kremlin-linked media pushed claims that LRT is politically protected and financially unaccountable, alongside broader narratives questioning Lithuania’s stability and future. At the same time, independent media attention centered on viral reactions to First Lady Diana Nausėdienė’s speech.
Read moreMonthly Reports
Latvia Monthly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Undermine Baltic Sovereignty
Domestic opposition populist politicians disseminated narratives of institutional persecution and Latvia being undemocratic. At the same time pro-Kremlin channels systematically inverted geopolitical responsibility, reframing Russian military threats as defensive responses to Baltic aggression and portraying NATO membership as hidden subjugation. Together, these narratives construct an alternative reality designed to delegitimize Baltic institutions, weaken NATO cohesion, and normalize Russian regional dominance by suggesting resistance is both futile and illegitimate.
Read moreEstonia Monthly: Bessedin’s Detention Fuels Pro-Kremlin Outrage
The detention of Oleg Bessedin by Estonia’s Internal Security Service (KAPO) in early November reignited intense debates about foreign influence operations and media pluralism. While authorities accuse Bessedin of cooperating with Russian intelligence-linked actors and amplifying sanctioned Kremlin propaganda, pro-Kremlin commentators framed his arrest as a politically motivated attack on Russian speakers in Estonia. The case has deepened existing tensions between national security concerns and narratives portraying Estonia as increasingly hostile toward dissenting Russian-language voices.
Read moreLatvia Monthly: Disinformation Peaks Ahead of Final Vote on Istanbul Convention Withdrawal
While Kremlin-aligned disinformation has long been present in Latvia’s information space, the more alarming development is how local politicians have brought these tactics into the center of mainstream politics, making conspiracy theories and fabricated threats core components of parliamentary debate. Conservative and populist politicians like oligarch Ainārs Šlesers now routinely claim the Istanbul Convention promotes “117 genders” and enables forced gender transitions for children, combining Russian-style narratives about Western moral decay with Trumpian manipulation tactics including personal ridicule, “Sorosist” conspiracies, and apocalyptic calls to “save Latvia.”
Read moreEstonia Monthly: Kremlin Media Exploit Local Elections
In October 2025, pro-Kremlin commentators seized on Estonia’s municipal elections and language-law debates to portray the country as “Russophobic” and repressive toward Russian-speaking minorities. The narrative escalated after authorities barred several Latvian politicians from entering Estonia for a Russian-language community event, which malign networks reframed as an attack on free speech — merging ethnic-discrimination claims with pre-election propaganda themes.
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