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Lithuania Weekly: Potential Emergence of the Fifth Column

Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania have zeroed in on political debates over the potential emergence of a “fifth column” in Parliament. Sparked by comments from MP Saulius Skvernelis and echoed by President Gitanas Nausėda, the warnings were dismissed by others as exaggerated. Kremlin-linked outlets used these internal disagreements to frame Lithuania as politically unstable and vulnerable to division.

Weekly Reports

10
Seimas
March 17th – March 23rd, 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Potential Emergence of the Fifth Column

Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania have zeroed in on political debates over the potential emergence of a “fifth column” in Parliament. Sparked by comments from MP Saulius Skvernelis and echoed by President Gitanas Nausėda, the warnings were dismissed by others as exaggerated. Kremlin-linked outlets used these internal disagreements to frame Lithuania as politically unstable and vulnerable to division.

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5
Latvia
March 17th – March 23rd, 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Channels Amplify Anti-Russian Narratives

Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels are systematically portraying Latvia as hostile towards its Russian-speaking population, amplifying inflammatory statements by public figures to create a narrative of increasing tension and potential conflict. These posts strategically cherry-pick incidents and statements to stoke division, presenting them as evidence of systematic discrimination and positioning the Russian-speaking population as victims of an aggressive, anti-Russian society.

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5
NATO
March 17th – March 23rd, 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Weekly: Speculations on National Defence Issues

Estonia’s renewed coalition plans to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2026, sparking social media criticism of socio-economic conditions, potential taxes, state loans, and pension freezes. The Estonian President claimed over 50% of ethnic Russian residents are ready to defend Estonia against military threats, despite pro-Kremlin narratives being reacted to aggressively.

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5
Military
March 10th – March 16th, 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Weekly: Kremlin-Backed Disinformation Portrays Latvia as Aggressor

A narrative gaining significant traction in the Kremlin-aligned Telegram channel “Anti-fascists of Pribaltics” portrays Latvia as irrationally aggressive and fundamentally opposed to peace. This channel systematically ridicules Latvian officials, misrepresents NATO exercises as offensive preparations to delegitimize Baltic sovereignty and dismiss legitimate security concerns as paranoid and unfounded.

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6
Tallinn
March 10th – March 16th, 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Weekly: Concerns about Domestic and Foreign Instability

Estonians are concerned about a phone call between Trump and Putin, citing potential concessions in favour of Russia and comparing it to the 1938 Munich Agreement. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin commentators questioned the ability of Estonian politicians to govern the country amid external security threats and economic challenges, as Estonia’s ruling coalition collapsed over tax policy disagreements, causing political turmoil.

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10
Remigijus Žemaitaitis
March 3rd – March 9th, 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Žemaitaitis’ Scandal Downplayed by Pro-Kremlin Media

Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania focused on downplaying fears about Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, portraying him as a peace-seeking leader and dismissing criticism of his foreign policy as hypocrisy. At the same time, these outlets amplified narratives that Western governments exaggerate the Russian threat to serve the interests of the military-industrial complex, accusing Lithuania of fearmongering to justify increased defense spending. Meanwhile, while Lithuanian media erupted over the Remigijus Žemaitaitis scandal, pro-Kremlin sources largely ignored it or framed him as a victim of political persecution rather than a politician caught deceiving his supporters.

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5
March 3rd – March 9th, 2025 by Martinš Hiršs

Latvia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Disinformation Paints the Baltics as NATO Pawns

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels systematically portray Baltic states as irrational “Russophobes” and Western puppets while threatening them with destruction. These channels employ historical revisionism, dehumanizing language, and claims of Western abandonment to undermine Baltic sovereignty and create divisions within NATO and the EU.

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5
Defence
March 3rd – March 9th, 2025 by Dmitri Teperik and Artur Aukon

Estonia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Commentators Condemn ‘ReArm Europe’ Initiative

Pro-Kremlin commentators criticize EU “ReArm Europe” initiative, arguing it could prolong Ukraine’s war and undermine US peace efforts. International Women’s Day (8 March) triggered some ideological debates about Soviet occupation legacy and pro-Kremlin sentiments.

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10
putin
February 24th – March 2nd, 2025 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Exploits Trump-Zelensky Tensions

Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania has seized on tensions between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, using their meeting to push narratives that Ukraine must abandon NATO aspirations and that the West is an unreliable ally. These outlets portrayed Zelensky as disrespectful and Trump as frustrated, claiming that Ukraine is to blame for prolonging the war. At the same time, war-related disinformation escalated, accusing Lithuania of fueling a “war machine” against Russia—a fear-mongering tactic aimed at weakening public support for Ukraine and reinforcing Kremlin narratives.

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