Report
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.
Monthly Reports
Lithuania Monthly: Kremlin Narratives Exploit Protests to Undermine Democracy
Throughout November 2024, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania amplified anti-government narratives, tying them to recent parliamentary election results and protests. These outlets framed events as evidence of systemic instability and exploited them to spread disinformation, fostering division and undermining democratic institutions.
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Latvia Monthly: Conspiracy Theories Target US-Latvia Relations
Kremlin-aligned channels and local conspiracy networks are leveraging political uncertainty, particularly Donald Trump’s election, to spread disinformation about US-Latvia relations and foreign policies. False claims about US military support, embassy services, and “globalist” conspiracies aim to sow fear and distrust, exploiting historical geopolitical anxieties and feeding into anti-Western narratives.
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Estonia Monthly: KOOS/Вместе Leader Exploits Russophobia Claims
At the World Congress of Compatriots in Moscow, KOOS/Вместе leader Oleg Ivanov threatened to form a “people’s front” to defend Russian-speakers in Estonia, accusing the Estonian government of Russophobia and voter disenfranchisement. His remarks, tied to the case of imprisoned party leader Aivo Peterson, signal a push for influence in Estonia’s local elections and align with the party’s broader narrative of human rights advocacy for Russians.
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Lithuania Monthly: Elections Draw Intense Focus from Kremlin-Aligned Media
In October, Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media honed in on the parliamentary elections, amplifying anti-government sentiment. Articles portrayed the ruling parties as disconnected from citizens’ economic hardships, questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process and casting the leadership as ineffective. This coverage aligned with broader narratives critiquing Lithuania’s Western alliances and economic policies.
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Latvia Monthly: Opposition Leader Questions NATO Support and Criticizes National Spending
In response to the Shahed drone crash in Latvia, opposition leader Ainārs Šlesers raises concerns about NATO’s response and criticizes Latvia’s spending on projects like Rail Baltica and Green Deal policies. The post sparked high engagement on social media, with many comments supporting Šlesers’ view that Latvia should prioritize security and claiming the West is to blame for the ongoing conflict, not Russia.
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Estonia Monthly: Controversy Over Voting Rights Sparks Accusations of Russophobia
A heated debate emerged in Estonia over proposed changes to voting rights for non-citizens, particularly affecting Russians living in the country. Articles and social media posts fueled claims that the Estonian government was intentionally making life harder for Russian residents.
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Lithuania Monthly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Spins Kursk Operation to Stoke Anti-Western Sentiment
September saw an uptick in Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media activity, with Ukraine-related topics and anti-government narratives dominating the disinformation landscape. A particularly heated controversy emerged after television presenter Algis Ramanauskas made inflammatory remarks about Russian-speaking communities, which sparked public outrage and further fueled the narrative of ethnic tension.
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Latvia Monthly: Opposition Spreads Misinformation About Kamala Harris and the Equality Act
A member of the Latvian opposition party shared an AI-generated image alongside false claims about Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. The post misleadingly alleges that Harris would pass the “Equality Act” to allow men access to women’s private spaces and promote gender reassignment surgery for young adults. These claims, however, distort the true purpose of the Act, which aims to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Estonia Monthly: Misleading Narrative on Baltic Poverty and EU Integration
Svyatoslav Knyazev argues that Baltic countries have suffered economic decline since joining the European Union. While the article highlights certain challenges, it fails to consider the broader context of Baltic successes, such as digital innovation and EU-driven modernization. Knyazev’s claim that “Europe is impoverishing the Baltics” overlooks key reforms, EU development funds, and geopolitical factors influencing their pivot away from Russia.
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