Latvian MEP Tatjana Zdanoka (Tatyana Zhdanok) has been working for Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for two decades, according to a joint investigation by Re:Baltica, DELFI, The Insider, and Expressen. Leaked documents reveal that Zdanoka reported to two different FSB handlers from at least 2004 to 2017. She submitted detailed reports on her work at…
Latvia and Lithuania were among the largest exporters of beer to Russia in 2023, LRT reported, citing Russian news agency RIA Novosti. According to the report, the value of Lithuania’s beer exports to Russia amounted to USD 36.5mn in 2023, which was up by 1.9 times from 2022, accounting for just over 15% of Russia’s…
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has awarded German foreign and security policy experts Jessica Berlin and Benjamin Tallis as well as Finnish anti-disinformation expert Pekka Kallioniemi with the Order of the Star of Lithuanian Diplomacy, ELTA reports. Berlin is founder of the strategic consulting company, CoStruct, while Tallis is analyst at the German Council on…
Researchers at Russia’s Pskov State University have compiled an analytical report on the use of Russia’s “soft power” instruments in the Baltic States, Baltic News Network reports. The report discusses the challenges posed by restrictions on Russian propaganda in the region, suggesting alternative methods of influence. The report claims that people in the Baltic States…
Russian propagandists, conspiracy theorists, and sensationalist journalists are trying to create confusion and panic by spreading fears about an impending Russian attack against the Baltic States, Estonian anti-disinformation platform Propastop reports. The platform singles out German journalist Julian Röpcke who, in an article for the Bild daily tabloid, suggested that Russia could attack one of…
The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have agreed on new priorities of cooperation at their annual summit in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, BNS reports. In the 2024-2026 period, the two parliamentary cooperation organisations will focus on supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and on defence against cyber threats and disinformation. Also, the eight parliaments will promote democracy…
Estonia needs proactive legislation to restrict “harmful foreign media outlets,” in addition to sanctions imposed on Russia, Andres Jõesaar, media adviser at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, stated, ERR reports. He conceded that the recent controversial proposal by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) to monitor media bias was “badly worded.” However, Jõesaar…
Cyber attackers are conducting targeted DDoS attacks against Lithuania, Liudas Alisauskas, director of the National Cyber Security Centre (NKSC), announced, BNS reports. The attacks disrupted the mobile public transport ticket system, m.Ticket, in Vilnius and the website of the capital city’s development agency, Go Vilnius. Also, NKSC recorded two incidents when anti-NATO disinformation was broadcast…
The Lithuanian MEP, Viktor Uspaskich, and his former wife, Jolanta Blazyte, are funding a new social media platform and alternative news website, 77.lt, LRT reports. The website, which was launched in April 2023, has attracted users who spread fake news about the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines, and the war in Ukraine. The network operates as part…