Key Insights:
During the reporting month Latvian social-media actors primarily focused on domestic issues including the controversy surrounding ratification of the Istanbul Convention and the private airplane flights taken by Krišjānis Kariņš during his time as the prime minister . The main narratives for the reporting month are as follows:
- The Istanbul Convention does not address violence against women but is rather propaganda introducing social gender and enabling pedophelia
- The Istabul Convention was ratified without having actual support within the Latvian public as it goes against the traditional Latvian values
- Latvia has one of the highest rates of corruption in European Union which is a direct causal link for the wealth disparity and low-birth rates
Overview of findings:
- In the reporting month, Tiktok, Telegram, Facebook and Twitter platforms were monitored. The most engagement is reached through content in video format making Tiktok and Facebook the primary channels for disseminating disinformation. A total of 250 posts were examined.
- Similarly as in the previous reporting month the majority of content remains focused on domestic issues with almost none of the content discussing conflicts in Ukraine or Gaza.
- An element common among the majority of the disinformation actors examined is a highly critical view of the government targeting especially the leading political party and coalition altogether. Within the reporting month both the disinformation narratives relating to the Istanbul Convention and the private airplane flights included direct naming and shaming of politicians either actively supporting the Istanbul Convention or defending the need for such expenses for high level politicians.
- An additional element common in the disinformation narratives prevalent in the reporting month is the high involvement of children within the narratives. In the context of the Istanbul Convention the disinformation narratives always lead to the Convention leading to harm to children either through enforcing gender change by education in schools or through allowing same-sex partnerships being a front for pedophelia
Story of the month:
“Galvenā Latvijas eksporta prece- Kariņš”/ Latvia’s main export- Kariņš (https://fb.watch/oAx–Pw_PA/)
During the reporting month the main controversy that struck the Latvian public and was further incorporated in the disinformation narratives was the private airplane flights taken by Krišjānis Kariņš during his time as the prime minister. At the beginning of the controversy the amount spent on the flights was thought to have reached approximately 600 000 euros which already caused high criticism from the public and comparison to leaders of other similarly situated state leaders taking commercial flights. Thus, further creating the perception that life in other states is exceptionally better and such scandals are only prevalent in Latvia. The controversy continued to fuel discussions and continue to be discussed by the examined disinformation channels as new information showed that the actual amount spent on the private flights was 1 363 861 euros.
For the examined disinformation channels the private airplane controversy allowed to further spread disinformation surrounding the corruption, wealth disparity, birth rates in Latvia. More specifically, some authors have claimed that Latvia is the poorest country in the European Union as well as it has the lowest birth-rates which both are not factually supported claims. Additionally, the controversy has been widely adressed by the disinformation channels linked to the opposition parties- Latvija Pirmajā Vietā (Latvia in first place) and Stabilitātei (For stability) which have been either leading or endorsing the necessity for a referendum regarding the dismissal of the Latvian parliament.
The post published on Facebook in video format reached 11 thousand views which although not being the most viewed post of the examined month was the post that reached the most engagement with the total of shares- 269 and substantial amount of comments for the view count- 133. The comment section was predominantly critical of the Latvian government, showcasing overall very low trust in the coalition and leading politicians. The comment section mainly targeted the ex prime minister and now foreign minister Krišjānis Kariņš who has already been highly critiqued due to policies implemented and measures taken during Covid-19 pandemic. Considerable part of the comment section went further than being merely critical and included the usage of lgbtq slurs and the incitement of violence directed at Krišjānis Kariņš.
