Reports
Estonia Weekly: VAT Hike and Church Bill Fuel Disinformation
Estonia’s VAT hike and some new laws have become lightning rods for pro-Kremlin critics, who frame them as evidence of elitist governance and cultural oppression, especially targeting the Russian-speaking minority.
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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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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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Estonia Weekly: Kremlin Echoes Persist Over Church Law
Pro-Kremlin voices on Russian-speaking social media portrayed Estonia’s revised Churches and Congregations Act as continued state persecution of the Orthodox Church, reinforcing a narrative of religious oppression and general Russophobia. Simultaneously, they condemned the U.S. strikes in Iran as aggressive and hypocritical, using them to justify Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
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