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
Latvia Weekly: Propaganda Portrays Trump-Putin Talks as Abandonment of Latvia
The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel “Antifascists of Pribaltics” responded to the Trump-Putin Alaska summit by publishing fabricated “intelligence transcripts” portraying Trump as conspiratorially agreeing to abandon Ukrainian territories and Europeans. This story deliberately exploits Baltic historical fears about great power negotiations, framing the summit as evidence that America views the Baltic states as expendable bargaining chips in deals with Russia.
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Estonia Weekly: Swine Fever Crisis Framed as Government Incompetence
Pro-Kremlin commentators denounced Estonia’s expulsion of a Russian diplomat while praising U.S.–Russia dialogue, as domestic debate in Estonia centered on swine fever outbreaks tied to wider criticism of government policies.
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Latvia Weekly: Narratives Portray Latvia as a Pawn of the West
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels systematically portray Baltic politicians as foreign-controlled mercenaries who abandon their homeland for Western salaries, while simultaneously mocking democratic institutions through personal attacks and conspiracy theories about embassy-delivered “instruction manuals.” These coordinated narratives serve to delegitimize European integration and NATO membership by reducing complex geopolitical choices to simple corruption and foreign manipulation.
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Estonia Weekly: Slur Controversy and Health Board Scandal Feed Public Outrage
Public use of the derogatory term “tibla” for Russian-speaking Estonians sparked controversy, leading to an apology. The incident fueled nationalist debates, while pro-Kremlin commentators seized on a corruption scandal involving the Health Board to further undermine trust in Estonia’s government.
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Lithuania Weekly: Drone Incident Used to Undermine Trust in National Defense and NATO
Pro-Kremlin media heavily exploited last week’s Belarusian drone incursion into Lithuanian airspace, mocking the government’s response and portraying security institutions as ineffective. Emergency alerts were framed as panic-inducing, while NATO was depicted as unable to defend Lithuanian territory. These narratives aimed to erode public trust and paint Lithuania as isolated and vulnerable.
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Latvia Weekly: Drone Support to Ukraine Framed as Aggression in Kremlin Media
Pro-Kremlin channels have mocked Latvia’s application for EU defence funding, portraying it as corrupt, futile, and driven by blind loyalty to the West. Using sarcasm and disinformation, they aim to discredit Latvia’s security efforts and undermine broader European defence cooperation.
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Estonia Weekly: Dismissive Remarks from Officials Fuel Kremlin Narratives
Recent political controversies in Estonia have been used by pro-Kremlin commentators to fuel narratives of government arrogance and detachment from the concerns of ordinary people. Meanwhile, critics accuse Estonian elites of promoting Russophobia and undermining social cohesion, thereby playing into the hands of Kremlin propaganda.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Outlets Twist Jobless Aid Talk into Military Draft Claim
Last week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania pushed disinformation suggesting the country’s independence is crumbling and NATO membership offers more danger than protection. Misleading headlines fueled outrage over a misunderstood proposal linking unemployment benefits to Riflemen’s Union membership, while scandals surrounding Gintautas Paluckas were largely ignored or downplayed.
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Latvia Weekly: Drone Support to Ukraine Framed as Aggression in Kremlin Media
Russian-aligned Telegram channels are spreading disinformation targeting Latvia and other Baltic states, portraying them as aggressors for supplying drones to Ukraine and allegedly conducting UAV strikes in Russia’s territory implying they could become future military targets. The narratives aim to delegitimize Baltic support for Ukraine, fuel internal fear, and justify potential Russian retaliation.
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