Report
Latvia Weekly: Disinformation Fuels Opposition to the Istanbul Convention
Ainars Šlesers of party Latvia First propagates false narratives claiming the Istanbul Convention promotes a “117 gender policy” and threatens traditional families, when the treaty actually focuses solely on preventing violence against women and domestic violence. He employs aggressive rhetoric against political opponents, repeatedly comparing Progressive party members to “Lenin,” sharing digitally altered images of them, and using terms like “gangsters” and accusations of “aggression” and “brainwashing” to delegitimize those who support the Convention.
Weekly Reports
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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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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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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Latvia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Exploit Trump-Zelensky Rift
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels mocked the security concerns of the Baltic States, particularly in the wake of the Trump-Zelensky spat, portraying them as laughable and irrelevant. They ridiculed figures like Estonian intelligence and Latvian professors, and suggested that criticizing Russia or the U.S. would lead to political suicide. Additionally, these channels propagated narratives claiming the U.S. was withdrawing support for Ukraine, further aligning it with Kremlin interests.
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Estonia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Mock Estonia’s Independence
Pro-Kremlin social media commentators mock Estonia’s dependence on external developments, posting sarcastic comments about the country’s foreign policy and praising the Trump administration’s negotiations with Russia.
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Latvia Weekly: Russian Propaganda Exploits Baltic Fears and Trump Rhetoric
Kremlin-aligned outlets are amplifying fears of US withdrawal from the Baltics while leveraging Trump’s statements to reinforce Russian narratives. They threaten Baltic sovereignty through historical revisionism, portray Baltic states as Western colonies, and warn of dire consequences for supporting Ukraine. By combining veiled threats with selective amplification of Trump’s rhetoric, Russian propaganda outlets are working to undermine Baltic security and promoting idea of Russian strength and regional dominance.
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Estonia Weekly: Anti-Government Criticism on Religious and Energy Issues
The Estonian government is pressuring the Russian Orthodox Church to sever ties with Moscow, citing security concerns, while pro-Kremlin critics accuse the government of undemocratic interference in religious affairs. Moreover, they also criticize the government for failing to develop proper energy strategy and not maintaining a pragmatic relationship with Russia on energy issues.
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Latvia Weekly: Kremlin Propaganda Spins Trump-Putin Call
Following the Trump-Putin telephone conversation, Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels celebrated by pushing narratives that portrayed Russia as an ascendant power in direct dialogue with the US, while depicting the EU and Baltic states as increasingly irrelevant and desperate. Their messaging combined ridicule with threatening undertones.
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Estonia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Commentators Praise Trump’s Statements
Pro-Kremlin commentators welcomed Trump’s statements on talks with Russia, highlighting Europe’s impotence and mocking Estonia’s poor relations with Moscow. Another critical narrative highlighted that 53% of Estonians do not rely on the state in times of crisis, with less than 40% trusting the government.
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