Reports
Estonia Weekly: Estonian Language in the Limelight
This week draw most of the attention towards the education policy in Estonia, which provides, that teaching language in Estonia is Estonian language. This topic was also discussed in relation to the similar developments in Latvia, that also is taking place for some time. These developments are regarded as Russophobic and ultra nationalistic. Among the other topics were raised issue of the ban of the Estonian visas for the Russian citizens, which was regarded as a violation of the basic human rights, and politician Yana Toom elevated this issue on the level of the European Parliament. One of the authors utilized his Facebook account in spreading Chinese narrative towards Europe and USA. In summary, the narratives over this week suggested, that (1) Estonian ban of Visas for Russian citizens is a violation of the basic human rights, (2) the United States utilize disinformation as an instrument to hold its hegemony, (3) in Estonia prevails Russophobia in a massive scale - It is forbidden to be Russian in Estonia, while Ukraine agenda prevails and Ukraine flag is a Nazi Symbol and (3) This is a kind of a tragedy for kids of Russian minority to learn in Estonian language.
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Estonia Monthly: Language policy: if Russian would “disappear” in Estonia in the “Latvian way”.
The Estonian social media and web-based media actors during the reporting month predominantly were focused on the Estonian/Russian language policy issues, human rights issues, democracy and trust towards elected officials, war in Ukraine as well as the international security situation in general. Accordingly, the main narratives that were spread over the social media were the following:
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Estonia Weekly: Government Distrust, Ethnic Divisions, and Freedom of Speech Concerns
Issues of national division, “untrustful” and grim nature of policy, disappointment in the state, government and democracy, as well as Latvian national policy towards the Russian media were among the most discussed topics over the social media in Estonia this week. In general, the narratives were suggesting that Estonian state media is dividing society between Russians and Estonians, solely on ethnic basis, and that politics is the only source of depression. The particular post was illustrated by a "no politics" sign. Other original posts supported that people cannot trust in politicians, people are not free, there is no true freedom of speech. As among the news from Latvia came the decision of the Latvian Parliament regarding the future policies towards the Russian language media, it was quickly translated into the narrative, that Latvian Parliament has adopted a policy of immediate closing of state financed media on Russian Language, which is fake news.
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Estonia Weekly: Political Distrust, LGBTQ Bias, and Ethnic Policy Controversies
Issues of national ethnic policy, trust towards politicians and politics, attitudes towards homosexual persons as well as the matter of the global international politics towards the “small” nations were covered this week in Estonian social media channels and websites. The main narratives were related to trust to the politicians and politics in Estonia, stating that politicians are corrupted and should not be trusted. Another topic was raised in comments to the article, which covered and interview with a homosexual person, immediately suggesting, that gays will seize the power, just because public attention are given to them. Criticism towards national ethnic policy essentially led to the conclusion that the government is dividing society solely on ethnic basis among Russians and Estonians.
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