Report
Lithuania Weekly: DHL Plane Crash Sparks Conspiracy Theories
During the reporting week, the DHL cargo plane crash in Vilnius dominated Lithuanian headlines and sparked intense speculation. While officials pointed to technical issues or human error, Kremlin-aligned media framed the incident as a provocation against Russia, amplifying conspiracy theories about NATO aggression and regional instability.
Weekly Reports
Lithuania Weekly: “Foxpay” Scandal and Election Echoes
Lithuanian prosecutors have launched a major investigation into financial technology company Foxpay, suspecting property crimes and corruption. Key individuals, including Ieva Trinkūnaitė and Mindaugas Navickas, have been detained amid allegations of money laundering and bribery. Meanwhile, Kremlin-aligned media focused on election transparency concerns and highlighted claims of a mass surrender by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, further attempting to undermine Ukraine’s war effort.
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Latvia Weekly: Narratives of NATO Distrust and EU Criticism Amid Migrant Debate
During the examined week, key narratives centered on distrust in NATO unity and negative sentiment toward EU policies on migration and climate change. An opposition party member claimed that while Eastern Europe faces war on its borders, Western Europe battles a “war on its streets” caused by migrants, described as uncivilized and a societal threat. TikTok remained the leading platform for reach and engagement, especially among Russian and Latvian-speaking audiences, while activity on X (formerly Twitter) declined.
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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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