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: Disinformation on Lithuania’s BRELL Disconnection
Kremlin-aligned media spread fear about the Baltic states’ BRELL disconnection, warning of power outages and soaring prices. A viral post by ex-Seimas member Mindaugas Puidokas falsely linked a gas station issue to the transition, amplifying Kremlin narratives aimed at undermining trust in Baltic governments.
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Latvia Weekly: Russian Propaganda Reacts to Baltic States’ BRELL Withdrawal
Russian propaganda narratives about Baltic states’ withdrawal from the BRELL electricity network range from legitimate concerns about rising costs to mockery and doomsaying. Russian outlets and commentators focus on negative aspects, such as price increases and subservience to the EU, while ignoring the enhanced energy security benefits of joining the European power grid.
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Estonia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Conspiracy Theories on Energy Security
Pro-Russian commentators on social media threatened energy shortages and blackouts because of Estonia’s planned desynchronisation from the BRELL electricity grid.
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Latvia Weekly: Russophobic Incidents
A high-ranking Latvian police chief in Latgale sparked controversy by allegedly referring to ethnic Russian officers as “occupiers,” drawing criticism from Russian-aligned media and local politicians. The incident, along with criticism of other allegedly Russophobic incidents in Latvia, highlight the ongoing tensions in Latvia over language rights and historical memory of the Soviet period.
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Estonia Weekly: Speculative Panic Alerts about Blackouts
Pro-Russian commentators on social media threatened energy shortages and blackouts because of Estonia’s planned desynchronisation from the BRELL electricity grid.
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Lithuania Weekly: Pushing Doubt Over Trump and Defence Spending
This week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania framed Trump’s inauguration as a threat to Western unity, predicting instability for Ukraine and Lithuania. Lithuanian politicians were criticized as shortsighted, while the government’s plan to allocate 5–6% of GDP to defense was mocked, with claims it would strain other sectors.
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Latvia Weekly: Telegram Channels Exploit Trump to Undermine Baltic Security
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels are pushing narratives that target Baltic states by depicting them as dependent on the United States, while simultaneously using Trump’s statements to undermine NATO solidarity and regional security. The channels promote a conspiracy theory about the US military-industrial complex controlling Trump, while characterizing US-Baltic relationships as corrupt arrangements built on “cozy schemes.” These messages are complemented by local actors who leverage Trump’s positions to advance anti-LGBTQ messaging, COVID-19 conspiracies, and criticism of Latvia’s independent media and government.
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Estonia Weekly: Defense Spending Proposal Sparks Dispute
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal proposed raising defence spending to 5% of GDP. Pro-Russian social media users criticised the move. Pro-Kremlin commentators expressed irony, while others praised Trump’s new policy and some hoped for the cancellation of the green deal in Europe.
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Lithuania Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Media Targets January 13th Commemoration
This week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania sought to undermine the significance of January 13th, the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, criticizing the “exaggerated sacralization” of the occasion and the forget-me-not symbol of remembrance. Additionally, the resignation of Agnė Širinskienė from the “Nemuno Aušra” party was leveraged to amplify anti-government narratives, fueling skepticism about the ruling authorities and their policies. These efforts aim to erode national unity and trust in Lithuania’s leadership.
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