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: Pro-Kremlin Conspiracy Theories on Energy Security
Pro-Russian commentators on social media threatened energy shortages and blackouts because of Estonia’s planned desynchronisation from the BRELL electricity grid.
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Latvia Weekly: Russophobic Incidents
A high-ranking Latvian police chief in Latgale sparked controversy by allegedly referring to ethnic Russian officers as “occupiers,” drawing criticism from Russian-aligned media and local politicians. The incident, along with criticism of other allegedly Russophobic incidents in Latvia, highlight the ongoing tensions in Latvia over language rights and historical memory of the Soviet period.
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Estonia Weekly: Speculative Panic Alerts about Blackouts
Pro-Russian commentators on social media threatened energy shortages and blackouts because of Estonia’s planned desynchronisation from the BRELL electricity grid.
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Lithuania Weekly: Pushing Doubt Over Trump and Defence Spending
This week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania framed Trump’s inauguration as a threat to Western unity, predicting instability for Ukraine and Lithuania. Lithuanian politicians were criticized as shortsighted, while the government’s plan to allocate 5–6% of GDP to defense was mocked, with claims it would strain other sectors.
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Latvia Weekly: Telegram Channels Exploit Trump to Undermine Baltic Security
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels are pushing narratives that target Baltic states by depicting them as dependent on the United States, while simultaneously using Trump’s statements to undermine NATO solidarity and regional security. The channels promote a conspiracy theory about the US military-industrial complex controlling Trump, while characterizing US-Baltic relationships as corrupt arrangements built on “cozy schemes.” These messages are complemented by local actors who leverage Trump’s positions to advance anti-LGBTQ messaging, COVID-19 conspiracies, and criticism of Latvia’s independent media and government.
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Estonia Weekly: Defense Spending Proposal Sparks Dispute
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal proposed raising defence spending to 5% of GDP. Pro-Russian social media users criticised the move. Pro-Kremlin commentators expressed irony, while others praised Trump’s new policy and some hoped for the cancellation of the green deal in Europe.
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Lithuania Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Media Targets January 13th Commemoration
This week, pro-Kremlin media in Lithuania sought to undermine the significance of January 13th, the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, criticizing the “exaggerated sacralization” of the occasion and the forget-me-not symbol of remembrance. Additionally, the resignation of Agnė Širinskienė from the “Nemuno Aušra” party was leveraged to amplify anti-government narratives, fueling skepticism about the ruling authorities and their policies. These efforts aim to erode national unity and trust in Lithuania’s leadership.
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Latvia Weekly: Telegram Channels Use Trump to Undermine NATO and Baltics
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels are using Trump’s image to advance anti-Western narratives, portraying NATO and Baltic States as aggressors while framing Trump’s presidency as a victory against liberal values. The messaging characterizes defensive actions by Baltic states – from military spending to infrastructure projects and NATO cooperation – as aggressive provocations, while portraying the Baltic states as American puppets whose interests will be marginalized under Trump in favor of Russian ones.
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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.
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