Separatist “Narva People’s Republic” idea spreads on social media

Since summer 2025, and increasingly from February 2026, social media accounts on Telegram, VKontakte, and TikTok have promoted the separatist idea of establishing a 'Narva People’s Republic,' advocating the separation of Narva and Ida-Virumaa from Estonia. The channels use provocative memes, separatist symbolism including green-black-white flags, a proposed coat of arms featuring a black eagle, military insignia, and the narrative that the region should be autonomous or independent under Russian influence. The Telegram channel, with approximately 60-70 subscribers, serves as the main distribution hub. Messaging encourages support and anonymity via Telegram bots. The wording, imagery, and terminology echo post-Soviet separatist models like the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics from 2014. The movement portrays the Narva region as Russian land and a conflict zone, including calls for attacks on adjacent towns such as Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve.