Reports
Latvia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Narratives Paint Grim Picture of the Economy
During the monitoring period, Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels amplified negative economic narratives about Latvia, exploiting real challenges like post-inflation price increases. While Latvia did experience significant inflation, these channels deliberately exaggerated economic difficulties through hyperbolic claims about impending hunger, "price chaos," and widespread unemployment forcing emigration. These exaggerated narratives were consistently framed to undermine public trust by portraying the government as indifferent to citizens' economic hardships.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: False Claims About Food Parcel Proposal
Two separate disinformation narratives emerged in Latvia. First, false claims about a reform that would lead to food parcels for the poor containing bad quality food. Second, false claims circulated about Trump supposedly cutting US government spending by 30% and about alleged US admissions regarding chemical weapons labs in Ukraine.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Misleading Narratives Following Trump's Victory
Kremlin-aligned disinformation channels and Latvian conspiracy theorists both exploited Trump's US election victory to spread misleading narratives. The pro-Kremlin channels suggested Trump as president would abandon Latvia's defense, and made false claims about him stopping liberal policies. Latvian conspiracy theorists portrayed Trump as defeating "globalists" and hoped his win would aid their own anti-globalist fight in Latvia. They also undermined trust in independent media and experts for failing to predict Trump's victory.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Economic Decisions Under Fire
Recent narratives in Latvian media depict the economy as faltering, with critiques of major projects like Rail Baltica, described as a "bottomless pit" draining resources. Claims also suggest that disconnecting from the Russia-Belarus BRELL power grid in favor of European synchronization will drive up electricity costs.
Read moreShowing 45 to 48 of 121 results
Don't miss a story.
We publish stories that change laws, lives, minds and the world. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigations delivered to your inbox.