Report
Latvia Weekly: Disinformation Fuels Opposition to the Istanbul Convention
Ainars Šlesers of party Latvia First propagates false narratives claiming the Istanbul Convention promotes a “117 gender policy” and threatens traditional families, when the treaty actually focuses solely on preventing violence against women and domestic violence. He employs aggressive rhetoric against political opponents, repeatedly comparing Progressive party members to “Lenin,” sharing digitally altered images of them, and using terms like “gangsters” and accusations of “aggression” and “brainwashing” to delegitimize those who support the Convention.
Weekly Reports
Estonia Weekly: Status of the Orthodox Church Fuels Debate on Discrimination
Estonia’s president has decided not to make changes to the law on churches and congregations, but pro-Kremlin social media groups say the decision is for show. Estonia’s plans to build a military base in Narva have sparked criticism by pro-Kremlin commentators accusing the government of provoking Russia.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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