DISINFO: Baltic elites are Russophobic and lack the instinct for self-preservation
SUMMARY
The elites in the Baltic countries have no instinct for self-preservation. They have been focused on total Russophobia for 30 years. Camps for Russian-speaking people may be set up there if they receive a command. The only reason for their existence is to confront and struggle with Russia.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the European Union and especially the Baltic states of Russophobia.
The Baltic states have clear security concerns regarding Moscow due to Russian politicians voicing explicit threats of invasion, similar to the events in 1940 when the former Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Lithuania's National Threat Assessment 2023 highlights Russia's war against Ukraine, sliding towards totalitarianism and strengthening of its armed forces. The assessment of Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service of 2023 notes that Russia’s strategic objective has not changed, which is to subjugate Ukraine and thereby decisively reshape European security architecture. The annual report by the Latvian State Security Service 2022 emphasised that Russia's war in Ukraine has changed the global security architecture confirming the need to continuously improve the national security system.
Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian are the official languages of these countries, but Russian-speaking people are not oppressed in the Baltic states. They can freely use Russian in their daily communication, and no one discriminates against them in this regard. There are courses in Russian in these countries and some classes are also taught in Russian.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Russophobia is on the rise in the Baltic States at the behest of the Anglo-Saxons, that Direct Nazism is now the norm in Baltic states and Ukraine, and that Russian speakers are barred from running in the Estonian elections.