Tag:
Reports
Latvia Weekly: Local Actors Amplify Stories of Oppression and Resistance
Local populist or Kremlin-aligned political actors painted a picture themselves as persecuted victims of an oppressive establishment while positioning their controversial stances as vindicated common sense. This narrative delegitimizes the state and portrays their radical populism as righteous resistance against systemic persecution.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Opposition Leaders Portray Themselves as Victims of Systemic Bias
Two Latvian opposition politicians have constructed narratives of systematic persecution, with Rosļikovs framing his prosecution for pro-Russian activities as evidence of disproportionate punishment for defending minority rights, while Ainars Šlesers alleges state-funded media bias that promotes government-aligned causes while suppressing dissent. Both narratives challenge the legitimacy of Latvia's institutions by portraying courts and public media as politicized tools of the ruling coalition rather than neutral arbiters, using claims of selective justice to position themselves as martyrs and mobilize support among audiences suspicious of institutional fairness.
Read more
Estonia Monthly: Kremlin Media Exploit Local Elections
In October 2025, pro-Kremlin commentators seized on Estonia’s municipal elections and language-law debates to portray the country as “Russophobic” and repressive toward Russian-speaking minorities. The narrative escalated after authorities barred several Latvian politicians from entering Estonia for a Russian-language community event, which malign networks reframed as an attack on free speech — merging ethnic-discrimination claims with pre-election propaganda themes.
Read more
Latvia Monthly: Political Victimhood and Radical Messaging Fuel Tensions Between Communities
In June, Stability! party leader Aleksejs Roslikovs sparked controversy by declaring in Parliament, “There are more of us! We cannot be banned!” – a response to a nationalist proposal to restrict Russian language use. His remarks and viral social media posts were later amplified by pro-Kremlin media, highlighting how domestic tensions can fuel foreign propaganda.
Read moreShowing 1 to 4 of 5 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.