KREMLIN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IN THE BALTIC STATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ESCALATION OF SPRING 2020

Abstract

The authors examine pro-Russian media outlets during the escalation of COVID-19 pandemics in Spring 2020 (March–May). Strategic narratives constructed and disseminated by the Russian Federation for the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) may emphasize: political and economic motives related to the policies of governments of the Baltic states; status-related motives to disrupt the international system and Western-led political institutions through the Baltic states; conflictual motives indicating opposing identities between Russian and Baltic nations, which have often emphasized the Russophobic context of the Baltic identity-building. These strategic narratives are part of Moscow’s strategy that aim is to destroy the unity of West and to increase ideological fragmentation in the European Union. Therefore, Baltic states have become an important target of influence operations conducted by the Russian Federation because of their geopolitical location and strategic importance.

Keywords

• russia, strategic narratives, covid-19, baltic states, international system, eu, economic, crisis, politics, influence activity