Skip to content

Estonia

October 7th - October 13th, 2024 | Week 58 | Month 14

Estonia Weekly: Escalating Anti-Government Sentiment and Disinformation

In the reporting week, anti-government sentiment in Estonia surged, with criticism of the economy and claims that politicians, including Tallinn’s mayor, were breaking promises. Reports also surfaced alleging Ukraine’s use of disguised bioweapons and some Estonian media calling for the genocide of Russians, heightening social tensions.

by Olevs Nikers
Main channels: Facebook

8

Main narratives:

  • General anti-government sentiments
  • Claims of alleged russophobia

Overview:

In the reporting week, anti-government sentiment was notably widespread, with many articles and social media posts criticizing Estonia’s handling of key economic issues. A significant portion of the content targeted the state budget, taxation policies, and the general economy, with claims that the government is failing to take effective action to improve the situation. Critics argued that the government’s inaction is exacerbating financial problems, and that little is being done to address the concerns of everyday citizens. Additionally, accusations surfaced against politicians, with particular focus on Tallinn’s mayor. It was alleged that he made promises during his campaign that he had no intention of keeping, further fueling the perception that he lacks concern for the needs of his constituents.

In a separate but alarming development, there were reports from official sources claiming that Ukraine is deploying bioweapons in the ongoing war, disguising them as conventional weapons. These reports were accompanied by assertions that certain media outlets in Estonia are now calling for acts of violence, including genocide, against the Russian population in the country. Such claims are particularly concerning, as they seek to deepen societal divisions and inflame tensions within Estonia.

Weekly Reports
Aleksejs Roslikovs

Latvia Weekly: MP’s Arrest Fuels Populist Narrative Online

June 16th - June 22nd, 2025

Tallinn Orthodox Churxh

Estonia Weekly: Kremlin Echoes Persist Over Church Law

June 16th - June 22nd, 2025

Dovilė Šakalienė

Lithuania Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Media Stirs Backlash Over Military Remarks

June 9th - June 15th, 2025

Daugavpils

Latvia Weekly: Pushing Anti-Latvian Narratives to Russian-Speaking Audiences

June 9th - June 15th, 2025

Israel

Estonia Weekly: Middle East Tensions Fuel Anti-Western Rhetoric

June 9th - June 15th, 2025

Stop Putin

Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Amplifies Anti-Ukraine Narratives

June 2nd - June 8th, 2025

Aleksejs Roslikovs

Latvia Weekly: Roslikovs’ Outburst Sparks a Viral Storm

June 2nd - June 8th, 2025

Tallinn

Estonia Weekly: Cultural Renamings and Climbing Unemployment Fuel De-Russification Fears

June 2nd - June 8th, 2025

Award

Lithuania Weekly: Vaitkus Award Controversy Used to Undermine the Government

May 26th - June 1st, 2025

Saeima

Latvia Weekly: the Use of Social Media to Cast Government as Threat

May 26th - June 1st, 2025

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.