Reports
Latvia Monthly: Disinformation Portrays Latvia as Both Militarily Weak and Recklessly Aggressive
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels in September disseminated multiple narratives about Latvia, including portraying language education policies as discriminatory oppression, mocking military capabilities, and framing Russian military exercises as transparent while dismissing Baltic security concerns. Domestic disinformation intensified around the Istanbul Convention, with opposition politicians fabricating conspiracy theories about gender ideology and immorality to misrepresent a violence prevention treaty and undermine human rights protections.
Read moreLatvia Weekly: Istanbul Convention Withdrawal Debate Revives Old Conspiracies
Despite Latvia's ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2023 and its proven benefits for violence victims, conservative politicians in preparation for parliamentary elections next year have launched a withdrawal campaign fueled by baseless disinformation claims that the treaty promotes "117 genders," “pedophilia,” and moral decline. This deliberately misrepresents a violence prevention treaty as a conspiracy against traditional values echoing narratives disseminated by Russia.
Read moreLatvia Weekly: Kremlin Channels Spin Zapad 2025 as Diplomacy Success
Monitored Telegram channels mocked Baltic defense preparations and concerns while positioning Russia as diplomatically transparent. The channels claimed Russia's Zapad 2025 military exercises were inclusive, because it was attended by observers from the US, Turkey, and other nations. The Baltic states' refusal to participate was framed as hostile action.
Read moreLatvia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Channels Mock Air Defenses
Following the crash of 19 Russian drones in Poland, pro-Kremlin Telegram channels criticised Latvia's defense preparations, using satirical imagery to mock the country's military capabilities while simultaneously portraying defensive measures as endangering civilians. The messaging employed contradictory narratives that frame Latvia as both militarily inadequate and dangerously aggressive, exploiting regional security concerns to undermine confidence in government policies.
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