Category:
Reports
Estonia Monthly: The Return of the ‘Russian Card’ Ahead of Municipal Elections
By June 2025, Estonia’s ruling coalition faced mounting internal tensions over cultural and social policy, with a proposal to abolish kindergarten fees exposing deeper divisions among the governing parties. As pressure mounted, opposition forces reignited debates around the treatment of Russian-speaking residents, accusing the government of pursuing de-Russification and cultural exclusion. With municipal elections looming, the ‘Russian card’ re-emerged as both a political weapon and a reflection of unresolved questions about identity, inclusion, and national cohesion.
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Latvia Weekly: Russian Language Debate Fuels Radical Rhetoric
Aleksejs Roslikovs sparked major controversy with his parliamentary declaration "There are more of us! We cannot be banned!" in response to proposed Russian language restrictions, leading to criminal proceedings for allegedly assisting Russia and inciting hatred. Following incidents including a hanging his effigy and offensive football fan posters targeting him, Roslikovs has leveraged these threats to construct a comprehensive victimization narrative on social media, portraying himself as a persecuted defender of Russian speakers against what he characterizes as organized extremist persecution and broader conspiracies by Latvia's establishment.
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Estonia Weekly: NATO Summit Fuels Kremlin Disinformation
Pro-Kremlin voices on social media depicted NATO as aggressive and divided, criticizing Baltic defence moves and mocking Western leadership. In Estonia, Russian-speaking groups amplified nuclear tensions and spread false claims about EU opposition to Ukraine’s membership to support Kremlin narratives.
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Echoes from Kremlin: Narratives Fueling Division in Latvia
“Latvia is failing, the West is evil, Russians are victims.” These are not fringe opinions — they are the dominant narratives across Russian-language Facebook and Telegram channels targeting Latvia’s Russophone community. Despite the ban on Kremlin media, disinformation continues to thrive online, repackaging old Soviet tropes into emotionally charged, culturally resonant stories. A new report, “Echoes from the Kremlin,” reveals how four persistent narratives — Russophobia, Economic Hardships, the Failed State, and the Bad West — continue to shape perceptions and deepen divides. These aren't innovative strategies. They're effective because they exploit long-standing grievances and identity fractures, not because they’re new. The real threat isn’t the message itself — it’s the societal vulnerability that makes it stick.
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