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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.

Weekly Reports

8
October 7th – October 13th, 2024 by Olevs Nikers

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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7
September 30th – October 6th, 2024 by Otto Tabuns

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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8
September 30th – October 6th, 2024 by Olevs Nikers

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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8
September 23rd – September 29th, 2024 by Otto Tabuns

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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8
September 23rd – September 29th, 2024 by Olevs Nikers

Estonia Weekly: Concerns Over Welfare and Rising Taxes

This week, articles and posts highlighted concerns over the Estonian government’s plans to reduce or eliminate welfare benefits, leading to public frustration about rising taxes. Unreliable sources claimed Estonia might take military action against Russia, intensifying fears of Russophobia. Additionally, a post referred to Parliament members as “Kremlin Agents,” fueling further debate on government alignment with Western policies.

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12
TV
September 16th – September 22nd, 2024 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Ramanauskas vs. Russian Speakers

Algis Ramanauskas’ controversial comments about Russian-speaking people on his YouTube talk show sparked outrage. His remarks, which included hostile language about Russian culture, quickly circulated in the media and ignited public debates on tolerance, hate speech, and Russophobia. Despite his later apology, the controversy underscored deeper societal issues concerning the integration of Russian-speaking minorities in Lithuania.

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8
ATM
September 16th – September 22nd, 2024 by Otto Tabuns

Latvia Weekly: Bureaucracy, Language Policy, and COVID-19 Spark Debate

Domestic issues dominated the narrative, focusing on bureaucracy, corruption, mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for children, and the use of the Russian language in public spaces. Opposition parties criticized the parliamentary decision to exclude the Russian language from ATMs, labeling it as Russophobic and inconvenient for Ukrainian refugees.

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8
Soviet monument
September 16th – September 22nd, 2024 by Olevs Nikers

Estonia Weekly: Continued Russophobia Allegations

Social media has been abuzz with increasing anti-government sentiment, with many posts criticizing the current administration’s handling of the economy, while official sources have reported a surge in claims of Russophobia in Estonia, particularly in relation to the removal of Soviet-era monuments and burial sites.

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35
Petras Gražulis
September 9th – September 15th, 2024 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Accelerating Election Campaign

significant social media activity came from controversial politician Petras Gražulis, who posted 31 Facebook Reels, harshly criticizing the government and promoting his coalition “Kelkis Lietuva”.

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