Event ca17b8eb-2a20-479f-97e3-34b5301ca1d1

Headline: Systematic changes to Baltic people's biographies on Wikipedia erase Soviet-era victimhood

Short Summary: On January 29, 2026, Latvian media reported systematic changes on Wikipedia, altering Baltic people’s biographies by removing Soviet occupation victim narratives and downplaying repression during the Latvian SSR era.

Extended Summary: Latvian public broadcaster LSM exposed systematic edits on Wikipedia targeting biographies of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian individuals identified as victims of Soviet repression, including politicians, artists, and athletes. These changes erase references to Latvia’s Soviet past, the occupation, repression under the Latvian SSR (1940-1991), and historical facts about Soviet deportations and political imprisonment. Media reports show that people's biographies are being rewritten to omit or downplay negative Soviet historical aspects and instead present an interpreted Soviet view historically favorable to Russia. The editorial manipulations occur mainly on the Latvian-language Wikipedia but also affect Estonian and Lithuanian biographies. These alterations contribute to historical revisionism favoring Russian narratives and may be part of information warfare targeting Baltic countries' collective memory. The article cites research, journalist findings, and expert opinions on the misleading alterations and the challenge of correcting them. Authorities in Baltic states, including Latvia’s Ministry of Culture and intelligence services, are monitoring the situation. The article highlights the ongoing information battle over history in the Baltic region as part of broader hybrid warfare by Russia.