DISINFO: The Baltic States are perpetuating the myth of the Soviet occupation
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: Rubaltic.ru (archived)*
  • Date of publication: July 15, 2019
  • Outlet language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 160
  • Countries / regions discussed: Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia
Tags:
Occupation USSR Baltic states Nazi/Fascist

DISINFO: The Baltic States are perpetuating the myth of the Soviet occupation

SUMMARY

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia cannot stand the situation, when Moscow gets in their face with historical truth, discounting the myths of “Soviet occupation”. Russia and its fireworks remind the nationalists in the Baltic States that they lost the WW2 together with their Führer. Political successors of Hitler’s accomplices are in power in the Baltic States. They cannot bear the fireworks to honour the liberation of the Baltic cities from Nazis, because these fireworks remind them of their defeat.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Nazi Baltic States, with the aim to revise history and deny Soviet occupation. On the 23rd of August, 1939, Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression (Molotov-Ribbentrop) pact, whose secret protocols divided the territories belonging to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Romania into Soviet and Nazi spheres of influence. The secrets behind the the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact led to World War II and all its consequences. Shortly after the pact was signed, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany on 1 September and by Soviets on 17 September in 1939, followed by the Soviet aggression against Finland, and in June 1940 - occupation of the Baltic States and part of Romania. After Germany attacked the USSR in June 1941, the Baltic States were occupied by Nazi Germany until 1944 when the region reverted to Soviet control. Contrary to the claims of the pro-Kremlin media, the re-capturing of the Baltic States did not bring freedom, but Soviet repressions and occupation, which lasted for 50 years. The estimated war and occupation deaths are at 90,000 in Estonia, 180,000 in Latvia, and 250,000 in Lithuania. Furthermore, It has been estimated that between 1946 and 1953 deportations and guerrilla deaths reached 95,000 in Estonia, 125,000 in Latvia, and 310,000 in Lithuania. The disinformation message appeared when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania protested Moscow's plans to celebrate with fireworks the anniversary of Red Army re-capturing the Baltic States' capitals.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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