Report details Russia's intensified disinformation campaigns in Baltics

Russia is significantly increasing disinformation and propaganda activities targeting the Baltic states, according to a report from Lithuanian broadcaster LRT. The investigation details methods used by Russian intelligence to recruit individuals within Latvia, often via Telegram or during visits to Russia, to disseminate Kremlin-aligned narratives and influence public opinion in the region.

Recruitment and Covert Operations

The recruitment efforts reportedly focus on specific demographics, including individuals from low-income backgrounds and young people seeking financial gain. Once recruited, these individuals are allegedly given direct instructions on content creation. Erki Korts, head of the Estonian Internal Security Service, suggested one suspect "likely received specific instructions on how to act, which stories to publish, which topics to cover and which political directions to support."

Legal Cases and Kremlin Narratives

The report cites several legal cases stemming from these activities. In Estonia, videographer Oleg Besedin was arrested in November on suspicion of participating in Russian information influence campaigns. In Latvia, pro-Kremlin activist Aleksandrs Gaponenko faces charges of assisting a foreign state and inciting national hatred after claiming an "ethnocide" was occurring in Latvia and discussing the ideological groundwork for a potential "humanitarian intervention" by Moscow.

Funding and Official Acknowledgment

The influence operations are reportedly bankrolled through official channels. LRT identified the Russian Foreign Ministry's "Fund for the Support and Protection of Compatriots Living Abroad" as a key financier, covering costs for propaganda and legal fees for activists. The Latvian State Security Service has officially acknowledged that Russia is making "significant efforts" to ensure its propaganda reaches and impacts Latvian society, confirming the scale of the campaign.