Report
Lithuania Weekly: Amplifying Žemaitaitis Hate Speech and Targeting Ukraine Support in Lithuania
This week, Kremlin-aligned media intensified efforts to exploit divisive rhetoric in Lithuania – from portraying MP Žemaitaitis as a victim of “leftist attacks” to amplifying Ignas Vėgėlė’s remarks questioning the Ukrainian flag in Seimas. These narratives, paired with the mocking of opposition appeals and nationwide protests, reflect a broader strategy to deepen polarization, discredit political actors, and undermine support for Ukraine.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: Allegations of Corruption and Inequality
This week saw strong anti-government sentiment, with claims that Estonia and the West are propaganda tools for Ukraine. Most posts focused on the 2025 budget, alleging tax increases for the poor and cuts for the wealthy, alongside accusations of European Parliament corruption and police inaction.
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Lithuania Weekly: Elections Finally Taking Place
Last week’s media focus was on the Parliament elections, with many candidates adopting anti-government positions. Petras Gražulis, an MEP, posted Facebook reels criticizing the ruling government and promoting his nationalist party. Irma Gajauskaitė, a candidate from the Union of People and Justice, was detained after encouraging violence in a Facebook video. As election results began to come in, discussions about the transparency of the process surfaced, and anti-government narratives are expected to continue until the second round.
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Latvia Weekly: Disinformation on the EU Green Deal and Corruption
The content of the examined week focused on disinformation regarding the EU Green Deal and alleged corruption in the Latvian government. The Green Deal was portrayed as harmful to lower economic groups and Latvia as a whole, with claims of it being a tool for corrupt EU bureaucrats. Disinformation actors also denied the existence of climate change. TikTok saw the highest engagement across both Russian and Latvian-speaking audiences, while activity on X decreased.
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Estonia Weekly: Escalating Anti-Government Sentiment and Disinformation
In the reporting week, anti-government sentiment in Estonia surged, with criticism of the economy and claims that politicians, including Tallinn’s mayor, were breaking promises. Reports also surfaced alleging Ukraine’s use of disguised bioweapons and some Estonian media calling for the genocide of Russians, heightening social tensions.
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Latvia Weekly: Green Deal, Corruption, and Russian Language Policies
Attention remained on key domestic issues, including the Green Deal’s economic impact, corruption within the Rail Baltica project, and debates over Russian language policies. Opposition parties linked these language policies and alleged Russophobia to the country’s declining demographics, which they see as the biggest threat to the state.
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Estonia Weekly: Continued Anti-Governmental Sentiments
Anti-government sentiments surged both within and outside of Estonia, with criticism aimed at the European Union and Estonian leadership. Additionally, the Estonian government faced accusations of failing to accommodate Russian voters and refusing to reduce officials’ vacation time.
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Latvia Weekly: Vaccine Narratives Dominate Social Media
During the examined week, vaccine-related narratives dominated social media, particularly after lethal diphtheria incidents, with claims linking vaccines to government control. Anti-LGBTQ+ narratives saw low engagement, especially on Facebook and TikTok. TikTok remained the most influential platform, with high engagement among Russian and Latvian-speaking audiences, while Facebook activity declined and engagement on X/Twitter increased.
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Estonia Weekly: Concerns Over Welfare and Rising Taxes
This week, articles and posts highlighted concerns over the Estonian government’s plans to reduce or eliminate welfare benefits, leading to public frustration about rising taxes. Unreliable sources claimed Estonia might take military action against Russia, intensifying fears of Russophobia. Additionally, a post referred to Parliament members as “Kremlin Agents,” fueling further debate on government alignment with Western policies.
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Lithuania Weekly: Ramanauskas vs. Russian Speakers
Algis Ramanauskas’ controversial comments about Russian-speaking people on his YouTube talk show sparked outrage. His remarks, which included hostile language about Russian culture, quickly circulated in the media and ignited public debates on tolerance, hate speech, and Russophobia. Despite his later apology, the controversy underscored deeper societal issues concerning the integration of Russian-speaking minorities in Lithuania.
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