Report
Estonia Monthly: Conscription Language Debate Reignites “Russophobia” Narratives
In December 2025, proposed language requirements for certain roles in Estonia’s conscription-based defence forces sparked renewed “Russophobia” narratives in Russian-language and pro-Kremlin online spaces. While critics framed the initiative as discriminatory toward Russian-speaking citizens, authorities emphasized operational safety, cohesion, and effective communication, highlighting ongoing tensions between integration, security, and minority rights.
Monthly Reports
Latvia Monthly: Istanbul Convention
“Ārlietu ministrs Kariņš nesenā uzstāšanās Strasbūrā minēja to, ka tie, kas ir pret Stambulas kоnvenciju ir it kā Krievijas ietekmēti”/ Foreign affairs minister Kariņš in his recent visit in Strasbourg claims that those that are against ratification of Istanbul Convention are influenced by RussiaThe ratification of the Istanbul Convention has been on the agenda of the leading Latvian party “Jaunā Vienotība”, however it has not been able to receive the necessary support within the parliament. In late spring of 2023, the topic of violence against women in Latvia and the lack of mechanisms to prevent it or protect women was brought up following a shocking homicide of a mother by her previous partner in which the police was, in view of public opinion, compliant due to their negligence. Following the incident Krišjānis Kariņš had publicly stated that the coalition should be more active in its efforts to ratify the Istanbul Convention and had set is a goal for the
Read more
Estonia Monthly: Yana Toom on the Estonian ban on issuing visas to Russian citizens
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, war in Ukraine, terrorist crisis in Israel as well as the international security situation in general. Accordingly, the main narratives that were spread over the social media were the following:
Read more
Latvia Monthly: “National Security Concept 2023” and the the opposition party “Stabilitātei!”
Following the introduction of the “National Security Concept 2023” in late September, the leader of the opposition party “Stabilitātei!” Aleksandrs Rosļikovs commented on the matter in a Tiktok video stating that the new concept aims to prohibit people from speaking in Russian and that “ignoring 40% of the population” is going to backfire.
Read more
Estonia Monthly: Language policy: if Russian would “disappear” in Estonia in the “Latvian way”.
The Estonian social media and web-based media actors during the reporting month predominantly were focused on the Estonian/Russian language policy issues, human rights issues, democracy and trust towards elected officials, 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:
Read moreShowing 73 to 76 of 76 results
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.