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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.

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