Report
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.
Monthly Reports
Lithuania Monthly: Farmers’ protest in Vilnius city centre
Lithuanian social media buzzed with diverse topics all through the month of January. Social media monitoring tool Awario revealed the most engaging stories, highlighting which one truly resonated with Lithuania’s audiences:
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Latvia Monthly: International Court of Justice
During the reporting month, Latvian social media actors primarily focused on issues arising out of Latvia’s European Union membership, portrayed in a positive light in states such as China as well as addressed the changes in the Latvian education system. The main narratives are as follows :
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Estonia Monthly: Yana Toom’s opinion on the politicians leaving the Estonian Centrist Party
The Estonian social media and web-based media actors during the reporting month predominantly were still focused on the Estonian/Russian language policy issues, human rights issues, democracy and trust towards elected officials, and war in Ukraine as well as the international security situation in general. Accordingly, the main narratives that were spread over the social media were the following:
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Lithuania Monthly: Wagner Group Symbol on Display and Willingness to Defend
Specifically, malign Kremlin-aligned media channels that are still operating in Lithuania further promoted anti-government sentiments to their followers. Fair deal of the most engaged stories from this specific type of media discussed and emphasised the domestic issues and harshly commented on the poor work of the government or specific officials, broadcasting negative anti-government narratives to their audiences. During this reporting month, pro-Kremlin actors kept on questioning politicians’ competencies and financial transparency (referring to the previously analysed MG Baltic case) and criticised major institutions of the cointry, such as Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, accusing it of committing severe crimes and comparing it to a “well-organised mafia”.
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Latvia Monthly: Threat of Immigrants from Middle East
The video’s author starts by stating: “You know what? All of the controversies about the language divide in Latvia is just a diversion from the real issues- immigration from the Middle East”. The author of the video goes further to say that this is an issue common to the European Union and mentions an example of a group of migrants from the middle east raping a fifteen-year-old girl- they were not punished for their crime. The author ends the video by stating that this is an issue that the Latvian representatives in the European Parliament have not dealt with- potentially due to upcoming European Parliament elections.
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Estonia Monthly: Estonian government changing the language of instructions in all schools to Estonian
The Estonian social media and web-based media actors during the reporting month predominantly were focused primarily on the war in Ukraine, America’s role, as well as the international security situation in general. They also focused on Estonian and Ukrainian relations, and President Zelensky’s call to draft more Ukrainians for the war. This month the attention turned more toward the Estonian government budget, and how it will affect the low-income families and people of Estonia. Attention was also given to the Russian schools and Estonia’s language policy surrounding the change in language of instruction. Accordingly, the main narratives that were spread over the social media were the following:
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Lithuania Monthly: Another Citizenship Removal and MG Baltic Case
Specifically Kremlin-aligned media channels in Lithuania continued to actively broadcast anti-government sentiments to their audiences. Absolute majority of the most engaged stories from this type of media covered domestic issues and widely commented on the work of the government or specific politicians, carrying a negative anti-government narrative. During this reporting fortnight, Kremlin-aligned actors emphasised citizens’ growing dissatisfaction with the current government, referring to the protest, that was initially organised to oppose the proposed property tax, held outside the Seimas. Also, outlets emphasised rising prices, and increasing crime rates in the country, arguing that it is becoming “dangerous to live” in Lithuania.
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Latvia Monthly: Private Airplane Flights Taken by Krišjānis Kariņš
During the reporting month the main controversy that struck the Latvian public and was further incorporated in the disinformation narratives was the private airplane flights taken by Krišjānis Kariņš during his time as the prime minister. At the beginning of the controversy the amount spent on the flights was thought to have reached approximately 600 000 euros which already caused high criticism from the public and comparison to leaders of other similarly situated state leaders taking commercial flights. Thus, further creating the perception that life in other states is exceptionally better and such scandals are only prevalent in Latvia. The controversy continued to fuel discussions and continue to be discussed by the examined disinformation channels as new information showed that the actual amount spent on the private flights was 1 363 861 euros.
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Estonia Monthly: Restrictions on Native Language
The Estonian social media and web-based media actors during the reporting month predominantly were still focusing on the Estonian/Russian language policy issues, specifically the policy which is introducing Estonian language in all the government funded schools, human rights issues, democracy and trust towards elected officials, war in Ukraine, as well as the international security situation in general. This month the attention towards terrorist crisis in Israel somehow diminished, but in turn, it went more over the economic and financial issues and the context of the European Union in this regard. Accordingly, the main narratives that were spread over the social media were the following:
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