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Latvia Monthly: Kremlin Channels Flip War Narrative, Cast Latvia as Aggressor

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are aggressively promoting the narrative that Latvia and its Western allies are the real instigators of conflict, portraying them as morally corrupt, militarily provocative, and Latvia as controlled by foreign powers. By framing Latvia’s defence initiatives and support for Ukraine as acts of aggression, these channels aim to justify Russian hostility and undermine trust in the Latvian government.

Monthly Reports

April 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Monthly: Narva’s Mayor Faces Threats Amid Rising Tensions

Katri Raik, mayor of the border city of Narva, has spoken candidly about the rising tensions in her community as Estonia strengthens its military presence near Russia. While some welcome the move, many locals remain wary. Raik has received multiple threats, including a death threat and public intimidation, on the same day news broke about a planned Estonian Defence Forces base in Narva. Her leadership highlights the delicate balance between national security and local identity in a city shaped by complex histories and geopolitical realities.

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March 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Monthly: Kremlin Media Exploits U.S. Military Incident to Undermine NATO

A tragic U.S. military incident in Pabradė, Lithuania, became fertile ground for Kremlin-aligned media in March 2025. What began as a local tragedy quickly turned into a disinformation campaign questioning NATO’s strength, Lithuania’s sovereignty, and the transparency of government institutions. Conspiracy theories flourished, amplifying distrust and fueling anti-Western narratives.

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March 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Monthly: Kremlin Propaganda Paints a Puppet and a Provocateur

Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels are deploying contradictory narratives to undermine Latvia’s sovereignty, portraying it both as a powerless Western puppet and an aggressive warmonger eager for conflict with Russia. By twisting Latvia’s NATO ties and defense initiatives, these narratives aim to erode trust in the Baltic state’s legitimacy, stir internal divisions within the EU and NATO, and justify Russian hostility in the region.

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March 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Monthly: Citizenship Reform and Church Bill Fuel Pro-Kremlin Narratives

Two landmark decisions by the Estonian Parliament in March – restricting local voting rights to EU citizens and severing church ties with Moscow – sparked a wave of reaction on Russian-language social media. Kremlin-aligned voices praised opposition figures who rejected the bills, particularly EKRE’s Varro Vooglaid, whose criticism of the church bill was widely amplified. His conservative rhetoric resonated with pro-Kremlin narratives, potentially drawing Russian-speaking voters toward Estonia’s far-right and opening new channels for influence campaigns.

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February 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Monthly: Kremlin Disinformation Aims to Undermine Energy Independence

Lithuania’s disconnection from the BRELL electricity network became a focal point of Kremlin-aligned disinformation, with media narratives predicting power outages, rising electricity prices, and government failure. Fearmongering posts and viral videos sought to erode public trust and frame energy independence as reckless and harmful. However, while these narratives gained traction among certain audiences, pushback from social media users highlighted growing resistance to disinformation. This case demonstrates how misleading claims and economic fears are weaponized to destabilize public confidence and challenge Lithuania’s strategic decisions.

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February 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Monthly: Russian Propaganda Capitalizes on Trump’s Statements

Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels used mockery, selective reporting, and fear-mongering to undermine the Baltic States’ security, sovereignty, and independence. These narratives painted the Baltic States as weak, desperate, and subservient to the West. Suggesting that Trump’s USA does not care about the Baltics and that one day the Baltics might be forced to realign with Russia.

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February 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Monthly: Disinformation Targets the BRELL Exit

In February, pro-Kremlin disinformation in Estonia focused on the country’s strategic move to disconnect from the BRELL power grid, which historically linked the Baltic states to Russia and Belarus. Misleading claims suggested that Estonia’s infrastructure was unprepared, warning of blackouts, energy shortages, and rising electricity costs. These narratives sought to erode public confidence in the transition, portraying it as reckless and economically harmful. However, Estonian officials reassured the public that infrastructure upgrades were on track, ensuring a stable shift to the European grid. The campaign was part of a broader Russian effort to influence public opinion and discourage Estonia from reducing its dependence on Russian-controlled energy.

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January 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Monthly: Defense Budget Increase Sparks Disinformation

Lithuania’s decision to increase defence spending to 5–6% of GDP has sparked disinformation campaigns, with pro-Kremlin media portraying it as reckless and harmful to the economy. Social media narratives claim the move will increase taxes, hurt public services, and benefit NATO over Lithuania. Critics, including political figures, question NATO’s influence and Lithuania’s priorities, while YouTube and social media amplify misleading claims about personal savings and economic fallout. This controversy highlights how strategic decisions are weaponized to fuel public division and distrust.

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January 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Monthly: Kremlin-Aligned Channels Exploit Trump’s Statements

In January Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels used the beginning of Trump’s presidency to advance narratives predicting dramatic global changes that would benefit Russia, including American retreat from global leadership, European fragmentation, and NATO’s weakening. These channels specifically target Baltic states, using humor and dismissive rhetoric to claim that Trump’s US will abandon the Baltics.

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