Baltic women’s groups receive Russian-language bomb threats

Women’s rights groups and support services for people affected by violence in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have received threats in Russian, with advocates saying the coordinated campaign may be linked to Russia, LRT reported.

In early September, several dozen women’s rights activists and support centres in Lithuania received a message claiming an explosive device had been placed in their building. The message, which named an organisation called the Men’s Resistance Front, also threatened shootings and killings “for all anti-male laws”. Two more similar messages reached organisations in early October, including groups in Latvia and Estonia.

Advocates said the senders appeared to have gathered detailed information about non-governmental organisations and people supporting women affected by violence. “The whole sector was attacked,” said Margarita Jankauskaitė, an expert at the Centre for Equality Advancement.

Latvian MARTA Centre representative Polina Filippova said the messages appeared to be part of a wider attack, after organisations discovered that groups outside the three Baltic states had also received them. Nele Laos, a co-founder of Estonia’s Feministeerium, said it was the first time the organisation had received a death threat.

Police responses differed

Lithuanian police said the message was vague and sent to many recipients, suggesting it was not a credible threat. Police spokesman Ramūnas Matonis said such messages could be intended to cause panic and disrupt an organisation’s work. He advised recipients to check for suspicious objects, ensure unauthorised people could not enter their premises and notify police.

Women’s groups said police in Latvia and Estonia contacted them and offered guidance. In Tallinn, police also contacted the building administrator and called Laos to explain how to respond and remain calm. Estonia’s interior minister publicly condemned the threats.

In Lithuania, police began gathering material over a false report about a danger to the public. Jankauskaitė said it was important not to dismiss the threats. The advocates also said the campaign recalled earlier bomb threats against schools in the Baltic states.