Russia financed children's rights defense activities involving Latvian politician Jūlija Stepaņenko, aiming at covert political manipulation in Latvia on 21 February 2024.

On 21 February 2024, revelations emerged that Russia had financed activities purportedly defending children's rights, involving Latvian politician Jūlija Stepaņenko. These activities were backed by pro-Kremlin organizations seeking to influence Latvian politics by covert funding and recruiting local actors for political manipulation operations. The financing was uncovered by Latvian media and authorities, igniting concerns about Russian interference through seemingly benign social causes. This operation exemplifies Russia's broader strategy of political subversion using disguised funding routes to destabilize Baltic states from within. Public and official discourse emphasized the threat of such covert financing to democratic institutions and ongoing vigilance against hybrid warfare tactics.