Report
Lithuania Monthly: Make russia Small Again
The disqualification of Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė from the World Functional Sports Championships sparked widespread debate, highlighting the entanglement of sports and global politics. Celebrated at home for her bold stance against Russian athletes competing under their national symbols, Dūdaitė faced intense criticism from Kremlin-aligned actors who labeled her actions as Russophobic. This incident underscores how geopolitical tensions permeate even the sporting arena, with reactions ranging from admiration to condemnation on a global scale.
Weekly Reports
Latvia Weekly: Exploiting Trump’s Radical Ideas
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are leveraging Donald Trump’s statements to spread narratives that aim to undermine NATO alliances and normalize Russia’s territorial ambitions. The channels circulate various themes, including claims about American companies resuming business with Russia, false historical narratives about the Baltic states, and allegations of Western media bias and censorship.
Read moreLithuania Weekly: Shift Towards Ukraine-Related Matters
Last week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania targeted the country’s support for Ukraine, portraying it as ineffective and corrupt. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was accused of pursuing “utopian objectives” that escalate the conflict, while Lithuania was framed as being drawn into unnecessary militarisation, with citizens allegedly prepared to become “cogs in the war machine.” These narratives aimed to erode public support for Ukraine, amplify distrust in Western alliances, and undermine confidence in Lithuania’s foreign and security policies.
Read moreLatvia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Predictions for 2025
At the turn of 2025, Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels issued predictions heavily focused on Donald Trump’s potential positive impact on Russia, forecasting a dramatic decline in U.S. global leadership and engagement. This would result in the decline of Europe and NATO and the rise of Russia. Only “fools” think that Russia will be defeated in Ukraine.
Read moreEstonia Weekly: Air Baltic Flight Cancellations Ignite Criticism
Excerpt: A Soviet song during ETV+’s New Year’s Eve TV concert was criticised for promoting the Soviet era, while others argued against Russophobia. The cancellation of Air Baltic flights revived old accusations of wasting taxpayers’ money and prompted criticism of the Estonian authorities.
Read moreMonthly Reports
Lithuania Monthly: Make russia Small Again
The disqualification of Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė from the World Functional Sports Championships sparked widespread debate, highlighting the entanglement of sports and global politics. Celebrated at home for her bold stance against Russian athletes competing under their national symbols, Dūdaitė faced intense criticism from Kremlin-aligned actors who labeled her actions as Russophobic. This incident underscores how geopolitical tensions permeate even the sporting arena, with reactions ranging from admiration to condemnation on a global scale.
Read moreLatvia Monthly: The Russophobia Narrative
In December, Kremlin-aligned social media continued pushing narratives portraying Latvia as a Russophobic, undemocratic failed state while also amplifying Donald Trump’s foreign policy statements to normalize Russia’s aggressive policies. These channels also leveraged Trump’s statements about potential US territorial expansion to legitimize Russia’s own territorial aggression and portray international relations as purely transactional.
Read moreEstonia Monthly: Estlink-2 Incident Sparks Disinformation Surge
In December 2024, the Estlink-2 undersea power cable between Estonia and Finland suffered significant damage, sparking geopolitical tensions and a surge in disinformation. Investigations pointed to the Russian oil tanker Eagle S as the likely culprit, while NATO and the EU raised concerns about critical infrastructure security. Simultaneously, Kremlin-aligned disinformation campaigns sought to deflect blame, spreading conspiracy theories that framed the incident as a Western fabrication to justify increased military spending and NATO presence. These narratives aimed to undermine public trust and sow division across Europe.
Read moreLithuania Monthly: Kremlin Narratives Exploit Protests to Undermine Democracy
Throughout November 2024, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania amplified anti-government narratives, tying them to recent parliamentary election results and protests. These outlets framed events as evidence of systemic instability and exploited them to spread disinformation, fostering division and undermining democratic institutions.
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