Skip to content

Estonia

September 18th - September 24th, 2023 | Week 3 | Month 1

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.

by Olevs Nikers

Main disinformation narratives:

  • Anti-Government
  • Russians are discriminated
  • Freedom of speech is being restrict

Overview:


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.

Weekly Reports
Seimas

Lithuania Weekly: LRT Becomes New Target of Kremlin-Aligned Disinformation

November 17th - November 23rd, 2025

Narva

Estonia Weekly: Coalition Negotiations in Narva and Tallinn Become a Target for Identity-Based Narratives

November 17th - November 23rd, 2025

Inga Ruginienė

Lithuania Weekly: Disinformation Campaign Intensifies Against Lithuanian Leaders

November 10th - November 16th, 2025

Aleksejs Roslikovs

Latvia Weekly: Local Actors Amplify Stories of Oppression and Resistance

November 10th - November 16th, 2025

Limp Bizkit

Estonia Weekly: Limp Bizkit Concert Cancellation Sparks Nationwide Debate

November 10th - November 16th, 2025

Gabrielius Landsbergis

Lithuania Weekly: Disinformation Targets Landsbergis and Exploits Belarus Balloon Incidents

November 3rd - November 9th, 2025

Roslikovs

Latvia Weekly: Opposition Leaders Portray Themselves as Victims of Systemic Bias

November 3rd - November 9th, 2025

Estonia Weekly: Arrest of Oleg Besedin Sparks Kremlin-Aligned Narratives

November 3rd - November 9th, 2025

Inga Ruginienė

Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Exploit Belarus Tensions

October 27th - November 2nd, 2025

Riga pride

Latvia Weekly: Disinformation Peaks as Saeima Votes to Withdraw from the Istanbul Convention

October 27th - November 2nd, 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.