Skip to content

Estonia

October 23rd - October 29th, 2023 | Week 8 | Month 2

Estonia Weekly: Language, Culture, and Geopolitical Tensions

This week, social media and news outlets in Estonia concentrated on educational policies, particularly the use of the Estonian language in schools with Russian-speaking students, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. There was notable attention given to a pro-Palestine demonstration in Tallinn. Discussions also touched upon the significance of Russian culture in Estonia and the potential EU enlargement to include Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, arguing from a financial standpoint that these changes would not benefit Estonia. The narratives conveyed a sense of threat to language rights, misinformation about the Middle East, doubts about the benefits of EU enlargement for Estonia, concerns over the state of freedom of speech and assembly, and a belief in the deep ties between Estonian and Russian cultures.​

by Olevs Nikers

Main narratives:

  • Concerns that Russian pupils are being led to believe the use of the Russian language within families may be restricted.
  • Allegations that information about the Middle East conflict, particularly regarding Palestinian actions, is misleading.
  • Beliefs that the potential expansion of the EU to include Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia is against Estonia’s interests.

Overview:

This week, social media and news outlets in Estonia concentrated on educational policies, particularly the use of the Estonian language in schools with Russian-speaking students, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. There was notable attention given to a pro-Palestine demonstration in Tallinn. Discussions also touched upon the significance of Russian culture in Estonia and the potential EU enlargement to include Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, arguing from a financial standpoint that these changes would not benefit Estonia. The narratives conveyed a sense of threat to language rights, misinformation about the Middle East, doubts about the benefits of EU enlargement for Estonia, concerns over the state of freedom of speech and assembly, and a belief in the deep ties between Estonian and Russian cultures.​

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.