Report
Latvia Weekly: Exploiting Trump’s Radical Ideas
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are leveraging Donald Trump’s statements to spread narratives that aim to undermine NATO alliances and normalize Russia’s territorial ambitions. The channels circulate various themes, including claims about American companies resuming business with Russia, false historical narratives about the Baltic states, and allegations of Western media bias and censorship.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: Speculation About 2025 Blackouts & Migration Law
In early 2025, Estonia will disconnect from BRELL and connect to the European grid, sparking speculative fears of possible widespread blackouts. Social media commentators criticize Estonia’s proposed legislation to ban the use of the Russian language in residency applications, raising concerns about growing Russophobia in migration issues.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Shifts Focus to Criticizing the Country’s Leadership
The “10 Minutes of Silence” protest on November 14 gathered approximately 5,000 people outside the Lithuanian parliament to oppose the inclusion of the “Nemuno Aušra” party in the governing coalition, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who is on trial for alleged antisemitic remarks. Critics, including President Gitanas Nausėda, have condemned the coalition as harmful to democratic values and human rights. Meanwhile, Kremlin-aligned media exploited the protests to amplify anti-Western narratives, portraying Lithuania as unstable and corrupt while aiming to erode trust in democratic institutions and support for Ukraine.
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Latvia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Narratives Paint Grim Picture of the Economy
During the monitoring period, Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels amplified negative economic narratives about Latvia, exploiting real challenges like post-inflation price increases. While Latvia did experience significant inflation, these channels deliberately exaggerated economic difficulties through hyperbolic claims about impending hunger, “price chaos,” and widespread unemployment forcing emigration. These exaggerated narratives were consistently framed to undermine public trust by portraying the government as indifferent to citizens’ economic hardships.
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Estonia Weekly: No Values in Narva Coalition & Denial of Cable Sabotage
Public debate arises over the Narva coalition between Raik and Stalnuhhin, criticized by mainstream politicians in Estonia for potential provocations and values discrepancy. Social media ridicules the idea of sabotage causing damage to fiber-optic cables, implying Western blame on Russia is unjustified and biased.
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Lithuania Weekly: Silent Protest Sparks Debate Over Coalition Controversy
The “10 Minutes of Silence” protest on November 14 gathered approximately 5,000 people outside the Lithuanian parliament to oppose the inclusion of the “Nemuno Aušra” party in the governing coalition, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who is on trial for alleged antisemitic remarks. Critics, including President Gitanas Nausėda, have condemned the coalition as harmful to democratic values and human rights. Meanwhile, Kremlin-aligned media exploited the protests to amplify anti-Western narratives, portraying Lithuania as unstable and corrupt while aiming to erode trust in democratic institutions and support for Ukraine.
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Latvia Weekly: False Claims About Food Parcel Proposal
Two separate disinformation narratives emerged in Latvia. First, false claims about a reform that would lead to food parcels for the poor containing bad quality food. Second, false claims circulated about Trump supposedly cutting US government spending by 30% and about alleged US admissions regarding chemical weapons labs in Ukraine.
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Estonia Weekly: Narva’s Dubious Coalition & Energy Policy Criticized
Some concerns are expressed about the new political coalition in Narva, as critics fear it will promote pro-Russian views and undermine Estonian democratic values. Meanwhile, the Estonian government plans to phase out oil shale electricity production by 2035, facing criticism that it is relying on strict decisions from Brussels and causing job losses.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Discredits Lithuanian Elections Amid Controversial Coalition Formation
Former President Dalia Grybauskaitė faced backlash for warning against a coalition with the controversial “Nemuno aušra” party, led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who is accused of antisemitism. Despite her concerns, the Social Democrats formed the coalition, which Kremlin-aligned outlets used as an opportunity to attack Grybauskaitė’s credibility, accusing her of Kremlin sympathies and discrediting her past political affiliations.
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Latvia Weekly: Misleading Narratives Following Trump’s Victory
Kremlin-aligned disinformation channels and Latvian conspiracy theorists both exploited Trump’s US election victory to spread misleading narratives. The pro-Kremlin channels suggested Trump as president would abandon Latvia’s defense, and made false claims about him stopping liberal policies. Latvian conspiracy theorists portrayed Trump as defeating “globalists” and hoped his win would aid their own anti-globalist fight in Latvia. They also undermined trust in independent media and experts for failing to predict Trump’s victory.
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