Main narratives:
- “Gender Ideology” Conspiracy
- Latvia is Western Puppet
- Europe and Latvia are not true democracies, they have double standards
Overview:
While local disinformation campaigns about the Istanbul Convention appear to be subsiding, Kremlin-aligned narratives remain present on Telegram and TikTok. Notably, Roslikovs from the Russia-leaning Stability party has adopted increasingly radical rhetoric throughout the year.
Ainars Šlesers from the Latvia First party continues spreading false claims that the Istanbul Convention has a secret conspiratorial agenda involving 150 genders and sex changes for children. This messaging aligns with broader Kremlin narratives portraying Western institutions as morally corrupt threats to traditional values. However, the frequency of posts containing these narratives is declining, suggesting that this disinformation campaign by Latvian politicians may have peaked.
Meanwhile, the “Antifascists of Pribaltics” channel mockingly referred to “Latvian Nazis” who supposedly believe Russia will pay reparations to Ukraine “because that’s what they were promised in London.” The post dismisses legitimate discussions about post-war reparations to Ukraine.
Roslikovs framed the expulsion of Russian citizens who failed to reapply for temporary residence permits as a strategic government plan designed to “escalate the situation in our region” and “spoil relations with the Russian Federation,” rather than acknowledging these as sovereign security decisions. He portrayed those facing deportation as innocent victims – “our people” and “pensioners” – being exploited in “political intrigues.” Furthermore, he argued that because Europe has imposed migration on Latvia while the country deports Russian citizens, this represents a clear double standard where Russians are treated as second-rate people whom Latvia can mistreat at will while welcoming other migrants. He declared, “If Europe is like that, I’m no longer European!”
These narratives aim to undermine Latvia’s Western alignment by exploiting policy debates about migration and minority rights. They position Russia as a defender of traditional morality and protector of ethnic Russians abroad, while portraying Latvia as lacking agency and merely executing Western orders to provoke its eastern neighbor. This reflects a classic Kremlin talking point that denies Baltic states their sovereignty and frames them as Western puppets.
