AJALOO JA PROPAGANDA VAHEL: EESTI JA LÄTI KUJUTAMINE VENEMAA AJALOONARRATIIVIDES

BETWEEN HISTORY AND PROPAGANDA: ESTONIA AND LATVIA IN RUSSIAN HISTORICAL NARRATIVES

Abstract

This article analyses the main historical narratives and events of Latvia and Estonia concerning the Second World War, fascism, and the Soviet period more generally, and their representation in the pro-Kremlin ideological discourse. Moscow is using several narratives and messages to try to influence different target audiences in Russia, but also in Estonia and Latvia (especially the Russophone audience) with its own interpretation of the historical events and narratives concerning Estonia, Latvia, the Soviet Union, and the Second World War. Several different channels are used to promote the pro-Kremlin ideological agenda: not only profound historical studies (monographs, collective volumes, and articles), popular-scientific overviews, conferences, workshops and seminars, but also TV series, social media platforms, documentaries, and so on. Even more materials are available to the narrow audience that has a strong interest in contemporary history, especially the Soviet period and the Second World War. The main topics of these narratives are the Second World War and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (1939), the occupation of Estonia and Latvia by the USSR, both in 1940 and in 1944, and the consequential post-war Soviet era. The main actors that design the pro-Kremlin understandings of Estonian and Latvian history are undoubtedly state officials, i.e. the president and his entourage. Major subjects such as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (1939), the annexation of Latvia and Estonia in 1940, and the activities of the Latvian Legion and Estonians in the Second World War in 1941–1944 are presented in a manner that is characteristic to the Soviet propaganda and historical science. According to the pro-Kremlin discourse, the Soviet–German pact on non-aggression and the delimitation of the spheres of influence were forced into existence by the inactiveness of the Western allies and the unwillingness of the USSR to enter into the war. Moreover, according to the official Kremlin narrative, Latvians and Estonians should think of the USSR (and its legal successor the Russian Federation) as the force that saved them from being in the same position as the countries that were defeated in the war that had collaborated with the Nazis.