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
Lithuania Weekly: Make russia Small Again
The disqualification of Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė at the 2024 Functional Sports World Championships in Budapest highlighted the intersection of sports and politics. Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “make russia small again” in protest against perceived violations of neutrality rules for Russian athletes, Dūdaitė’s act sparked widespread debate. While she received domestic praise for her principled stance, Kremlin-aligned media framed her protest as Russophobia and defended her disqualification as a necessary stand against politicizing sports. The incident underscored deeply polarized views on Russia’s role in international events, reflecting the broader societal divide on geopolitical issues.
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Latvia Weekly: Accusations of a Rebirth of Nazism
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels falsely portrayed Latvia as Nazi sympathizers. Additional baseless claims accused Latvia’s government of intentionally decreasing its population under secret EU directives. Notable propaganda posts included unsubstantiated accusations of historical revisionism in Latvian textbooks and mockery of Prime Minister Evika Silina. These narratives aimed to undermine Baltic opposition to Russian policies by depicting these states as both Nazi sympathizers and irrationally anti-Russian.
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Estonia Weekly: Queues at the Russian Border and Accusations of Anti-Semitism
Before Christmas, the Estonian-Russian border became tense with long queues and slow checks, leading to dissatisfaction and criticism of the government’s inability to improve conditions. Meanwhile, the Estonian Academy of Arts faced backlash and accusations of anti-Semitism.
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Lithuania Weekly: Targeting Lithuania’s Government with Criticism and Conspiracy Theories
Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media amplified anti-government narratives this week, criticizing Lithuania’s pro-Western stance and support for Ukraine as detrimental to its sovereignty. Articles also highlighted economic challenges, drawing parallels with social crises in Europe and questioning the EU’s capitalist model. Additionally, narratives claimed Ukraine is losing the war, suggesting peace depends on NATO abandonment and territorial concessions.
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Latvia Weekly: Russophobia Claims and Allegations of Double Standards in Sanctions
Pro-Kremlin social media channels have been spreading critical narratives about Latvia, alleging Russophobia through claims about language education policies and monument removals. Other posts argue that sanctions against Russia have harmed Latvia’s economy or that Latvia is inconsistent in applying international sanctions.
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Estonia Weekly: The Orthodox Church Controversy
The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) is in a public dispute with the Ministry of Interior over its canonical ties. NATO allies and the Estonian government are being criticized for irrational defense spending.
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Lithuania Weekly: Amplifying Anti-Government and Anti-Western Narratives
Kremlin-aligned Lithuanian media amplified anti-government narratives this week, criticizing Lithuania’s pro-Western stance and support for Ukraine as detrimental to its sovereignty. Articles also highlighted economic challenges, drawing parallels with social crises in Europe and questioning the EU’s capitalist model. Additionally, narratives claimed Ukraine is losing the war, suggesting peace depends on NATO abandonment and territorial concessions.
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Latvia Weekly: Lavrov’s Accusations and Russophobia in Latvia
Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels promoted the narrative of Russophobia in Latvia, citing the removal of Soviet monuments and investigations into pro-Kremlin figures as evidence. These channels also amplified Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s accusations of US aggression and his characterization of the Baltic States as US puppets.
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Estonia Weekly: Pro-Kremlin Narratives Target Defense Efforts and EU Diplomacy
Anti-Estonian criticism has been triggered by military drills and a private company’s idea to supply air-defence missiles to Ukraine. In addition, pro-Kremlin groups discuss EU High Representative Kaja Kallas’ actions, including her visit to Kyiv and refusal to meet Lavrov on Malta.
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