Report
Latvia Weekly: How Outrage Is Fueling a Populist Surge
The previously fringe Union of New Latvians party is now polling to pass the 5% threshold for Riga’s city council. Its leaders Glorija Grevcova and Rūdolfs Brēmanis are generating social media engagement through content which can be described as “outrage porn.” They are stirring up outrage in their audience using charged and even fake topics to provoke strong emotional reactions. Guess the populist political party which gained the most engagements for its posts on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram? It was not Roslikovs, the leader of Stability! party. It was not Ainārs Šlesers, Trump-like leader of Latvia First party. It was Glorija Grevcova and Rūdolfs Brēmanis from the Union New Latvians.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: A Call to Protest Against High Tariffs in Narva
Known for its pro-Kremlin views, opposition party KOOS / Вместе, launches a petition for revision of Narva’s hot water and heating tariffs, gaining social media support. Critics of the Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius rail link argue for government inefficiency, while also promoting Soviet nostalgia.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Media Undermines NATO
This week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania intensified efforts to question NATO’s reliability as a security guarantee for Lithuania, amplifying conspiracy theories about hidden control over the alliance. Alongside this, they painted a bleak picture of Ukraine’s battlefield losses and mobilization challenges, pushing the narrative of an unavoidable war. These campaigns aim to erode trust in NATO, diminish public confidence in collective defense, and foster a pessimistic outlook on Ukraine’s future.
Read more
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.
Read more
Estonia Weekly: More Speculations on Alleged Russophobia
The Russian Theatre in Tallinn is set to undergo a renaming due to geopolitical changes, with vocal critics accusing the government of rewriting history and discriminating against the local Russian-speaking population. Another debate on social media erupted over the Russian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate’s status, with pro-Kremlin users claiming liquidation of this church has already been decided.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Shift Towards Ukraine-Related Matters
Last week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania targeted the country’s support for Ukraine, portraying it as ineffective and corrupt. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was accused of pursuing “utopian objectives” that escalate the conflict, while Lithuania was framed as being drawn into unnecessary militarisation, with citizens allegedly prepared to become “cogs in the war machine.” These narratives aimed to erode public support for Ukraine, amplify distrust in Western alliances, and undermine confidence in Lithuania’s foreign and security policies.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Predictions for 2025
At the turn of 2025, Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels issued predictions heavily focused on Donald Trump’s potential positive impact on Russia, forecasting a dramatic decline in U.S. global leadership and engagement. This would result in the decline of Europe and NATO and the rise of Russia. Only “fools” think that Russia will be defeated in Ukraine.
Read more
Estonia Weekly: Air Baltic Flight Cancellations Ignite Criticism
Excerpt: A Soviet song during ETV+’s New Year’s Eve TV concert was criticised for promoting the Soviet era, while others argued against Russophobia. The cancellation of Air Baltic flights revived old accusations of wasting taxpayers’ money and prompted criticism of the Estonian authorities.
Read more
Lithuania Weekly: Festive Season, Same Agenda
Amid the festive Christmas season, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania continued its routine of targeting the government with a broad range of criticisms. This week, YouTube videos dominated the conversation, mocking politicians and questioning the country’s sovereignty. Popular narratives included claims of an “Earthquake in the ruling coalition,” an “avalanche of government secrets,” and skepticism over Lithuania’s energy independence. These narratives aimed to undermine trust in the government and reinforce doubts about national progress and independence.
Read more
Latvia Weekly: Trump’s Territorial Proposals
Social media posts amplified Trump’s statements about US territorial expansion (regarding Canada, Panama, and Greenland). While mostly factual, this messaging undermines international norms by promoting a transactional view of territorial sovereignty. Such rhetoric inadvertently aligns with Russian interests by normalizing territorial claims based on historical or economic arguments—similar to those used to justify Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Read moreShowing 37 to 45 of 240 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.