A Latvian young woman named Anastasija studies in Saint Petersburg funded by the Russian state. She produces propaganda videos promoting life in Russia as 'wonderful,' indicative of a classic Kremlin influence agent recruitment scheme. Russian authorities have been conducting such recruitment of foreign students for years, exploiting their digitalized services to attract and indoctrinate young foreigners before university graduation. Anastasija speaks Latvian fluently and works as a private tutor, potentially serving as a future influencer or translator upon return to Latvia, spreading Kremlin narratives. The article stresses the strategic purpose behind supporting foreign students not to retain them in Russia, but to use them as ideological agents back in their home countries. It also highlights the Latvian parliament's ongoing failure to recognize diplomas granted by Russian institutions since February 24, 2022, which would have been a step to counter such influence efforts.

A Latvian young woman named Anastasija studies in Saint Petersburg funded by the Russian state. She produces propaganda videos promoting life in Russia as 'wonderful,' indicative of a classic Kremlin influence agent recruitment scheme. Russian authorities have been conducting such recruitment of foreign students for years, exploiting their digitalized services to attract and indoctrinate young foreigners before university graduation. Anastasija speaks Latvian fluently and works as a private tutor, potentially serving as a future influencer or translator upon return to Latvia, spreading Kremlin narratives. The article stresses the strategic purpose behind supporting foreign students not to retain them in Russia, but to use them as ideological agents back in their home countries. It also highlights the Latvian parliament's ongoing failure to recognize diplomas granted by Russian institutions since February 24, 2022, which would have been a step to counter such influence efforts.