Event 958

{
  "attack_type": "Propaganda",
  "category": "InfoOps",
  "confidence": "High",
  "confidence_rationale": "Multiple direct quotes from officials and description of evidence-backed arrests and court cases; clear sources and prosecutions named.",
  "countries": [
    "Latvia",
    "Lithuania",
    "Estonia",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "country": "Latvia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "Russia has intensified propaganda and disinformation operations targeting the Baltic States, increasingly recruiting youth and local residents for influence activities, as evidenced by arrests and court cases in Latvia and Estonia.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-11-18T17:28:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "References to the Latvian TV program De facto's findings about Russian intelligence recruiting Baltic youth.",
    "The article claims the increase in disinformation campaigns, use of Telegram, and selection of low-income/youth recruits.",
    "Specific mention of tasks such as spreading disinformation, participating in pro-Russian activities, and pro-Russian policy advocacy.",
    "Russia has intensified disinformation and propaganda operations against Western countries, including Latvia.",
    "The Russian intelligence services are using Latvian residents, who can be recruited in Telegram channels or during trips to Russia, to disseminate the narratives they have created.",
    "The typical perpetrators of the tasks are people with low incomes and those who want to earn money, and more and more often young people.",
    "In early November, videographer and blogger Oleg Besedin was arrested in Estonia. For a long time, he had been cooperating with propaganda media in Moscow, at the same time producing documentaries and stories in line with Kremlin rhetoric.",
    "Estonian State Prosecutor Taavi Pern explained the reasons for Besedin's detention: 'Oleg Besedin is suspected of participating in information influence campaigns by cooperating with people who live and work in Russia... According to our suspicions, these people specialize in information campaigns'.",
    "Kasem published information about a conference organized by the pro-Kremlin organization 'Institute for CIS Countries'. ... pro-Kremlin activist from Latvia Aleksandrs Gaponenko also spoke, claiming that ethnocide had allegedly unfolded in Latvia. ... The content of this speech allowed to charge Haponenko with assisting a foreign state in actions against Latvia, as well as inciting national hatred and discord.",
    "\"The Fund for the Support and Protection of Compatriots Living Abroad, curated by the Russian Foreign Ministry, continues to be used to finance Russian influence operations in the Baltic States. It also covers the costs of lawyers' services in lawsuits against pro-Kremlin activists in the Baltic States,\" the Satversme Advocacy Bureau (SAB) reported."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "Russia has intensified disinformation and propaganda operations against Western countries, including Latvia.",
    "the Russian intelligence services are using Latvian residents, who can be recruited in Telegram channels or during trips to Russia, to disseminate the narratives they have created.",
    "The typical perpetrators of the tasks are people with low incomes and those who want to earn money, and more and more often young people.",
    "the scope and scale of propaganda campaigns in the Baltics is said to be increasing, involving recruitment, fake news, and political stunts.",
    "\"The goal is not to create chaos but to harm public trust in people, state institutions, and Latvia's partners.\"",
    "The Russian intelligence services are using Latvian residents, who can be recruited in Telegram channels or during trips to Russia, to disseminate the narratives they have created.",
    "In early November, videographer and blogger Oleg Besedin was arrested in Estonia. For a long time, he had been cooperating with propaganda media in Moscow, at the same time producing documentaries and stories in line with Kremlin rhetoric.",
    "Estonian State Prosecutor Taavi Pern explained the reasons for Besedin's detention: 'Oleg Besedin is suspected of participating in information influence campaigns by cooperating with people who live and work in Russia... According to our suspicions, these people specialize in information campaigns'.",
    "Kasem published information about a conference organized by the pro-Kremlin organization 'Institute for CIS Countries'. ... pro-Kremlin activist from Latvia Aleksandrs Gaponenko also spoke, claiming that ethnocide had allegedly unfolded in Latvia. ... The content of this speech allowed to charge Haponenko with assisting a foreign state in actions against Latvia, as well as inciting national hatred and discord.",
    "\"The Fund for the Support and Protection of Compatriots Living Abroad, curated by the Russian Foreign Ministry, continues to be used to finance Russian influence operations in the Baltic States. It also covers the costs of lawyers' services in lawsuits against pro-Kremlin activists in the Baltic States,\" the Satversme Advocacy Bureau (SAB) reported."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "References to the Latvian TV program De facto's findings about Russian intelligence recruiting Baltic youth.",
            "The article claims the increase in disinformation campaigns, use of Telegram, and selection of low-income/youth recruits.",
            "Specific mention of tasks such as spreading disinformation, participating in pro-Russian activities, and pro-Russian policy advocacy."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "headline": "Russia intensifies information operations and youth recruitment in Baltic States",
  "investigation_open": true,
  "is_continuous": false,
  "location_text": "Baltic States (with focus on Latvia and Estonia)",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_958_1763944008_407d5301.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "summary_short": "Russian intelligence services are actively conducting propaganda and disinformation operations in the Baltic States, including recruiting youth through social media platforms and employing locals for influence campaigns.",
  "url": "https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2749197/russia-strengthens-operations-in-baltic-states-increasingly-recruiting-youth",
  "where": "Land"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2749197/russia-strengthens-operations-in-baltic-states-increasingly-recruiting-youth"
}