Report
Latvia Weekly: MP’s Arrest Fuels Populist Narrative Online
Aleksejs Roslikovs transformed his detention by Latvia’s State Security Service on charges of assisting Russia and inciting hatred into a powerful social media narrative of political martyrdom, portraying himself as a persecuted victim fighting government oppression. His TikTok videos reframing the criminal investigation as evidence of his heroic resistance demonstrate how populist politicians can exploit legal troubles to strengthen their anti-establishment credentials and generate massive online engagement.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: Concerns Over Russian Propaganda and Youth Indoctrination
Estonian Internal Security Service accused blogger Oleg Besedin of spreading Russian propaganda on his YouTube channel, sparking a strong reaction on social media. Besedin claimed he gives a voice to the ignored, accusing Estonia of violating freedom of expression. Russia is using cultural and educational programmes at the Artek camp in Russian-occupied Crimea to promote pro-Russian sentiments among Estonian children, turning the camp into a centre for militarising children and spreading Russian propaganda.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Silence After Tragedy Fuels New Conspiracy Theories
This week, Kremlin-aligned media escalated narratives around the Pabradė incident, accusing Lithuanian authorities of secrecy and mismanagement. Alongside renewed conspiracy theories, the government faced intensified criticism over defence policies, economic reforms, and institutional trust, with malign sources aiming to erode public confidence and amplify societal discontent.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Russophobia, Decline, and Delusion – Narratives Fuel Division
Over the last week, monitored social media portrayed Latvia as Russophobic, tying this narrative together with claims of Latvia as an economic failure and dismissing the country’s concerns about potential Russian aggression.
Read more
Estonia Weekly: Seizure of Sanctioned Tanker Sparks Kremlin Backlash
Estonia’s navy has seized the Kiwala, a flagless oil tanker linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, in its first direct seizure in the Baltic Sea, despite accusations from pro-Kremlin commentators that it was overstepping its capabilities and potentially provoking inter-state tensions. Pro-Kremlin social media users also accuse the Estonian authorities of public Russophobia and violating the rights of the Russian-speaking minority.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Conspiracies After Successful Pabradė Operation
Following the recovery of the U.S. military vehicle in Pabradė, Kremlin-aligned media quickly fueled conspiracy theories, accusing Lithuanian authorities of withholding information and staging the event. By exploiting limited official communication, these narratives painted Lithuania as secretive and subservient to Western powers, aiming to erode public trust and question the country’s alliances.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Propaganda Paints Latvia as Aggressor
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels portrayed Latvia as an irrational aggressor and a powerless Western puppet lacking sovereignty at the same time. These narratives aim to delegitimize Latvia’s defense measures, undermine its international standing, and justify potential Russian aggression as defensive action against a perceived hostile neighbor.
Read more
Estonia Weekly: Propaganda Targets Censorship and Spending
Pro-Kremlin commentators accuse Estonia of censorship and violating freedom of speech after expelling a Russian nationalist Konstantin Gorlov from the country. Dissatisfaction with Estonia’s economic situation has led to online over a pay rise for public sector employees, including members of parliament and ministers.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Pabradė Tragedy Sparks Anti-NATO Narratives
The tragic incident in Pabradė, where four U.S. soldiers went missing during a NATO exercise, captured both national and international attention. Kremlin-aligned media exploited the event to question NATO’s role in Lithuania, framing the tragedy as a consequence of foreign military presence and portraying the country as vulnerable and overly reliant on Western allies.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: How Kremlin Channels Paint Latvia as Collapsing
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels persistently characterize Latvia as a failed state, portraying it as backwards and rural while spreading conspiracy theories about NATO biological laboratories and pension theft. These narratives aim to undermine Latvia’s sovereignty and Western integration.
Read moreShowing 28 to 36 of 266 results
Don’t miss a story.
We publish stories that change laws, lives, minds and the world. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigations delivered to your inbox.