Russia is stepping up efforts to pursue legal action against Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, accusing the three countries of discriminating against ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in a case it plans to bring before the International Court of Justice.

An investigation by LRT, Re and Delfi Estonia found that Moscow began assembling its legal strategy soon after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with formal preparations under way by last year. The campaign combines government lawyers with Kremlin-aligned historians and commentators who have long promoted Russian narratives about the Baltic region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry argues the Baltic states have breached the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by restricting the rights of Russian-speaking communities. Its allegations include changes to Russian-language education, the renaming of cultural institutions, the removal of Soviet-era monuments and what it describes as growing hostility towards Russian culture.

"The Russian community in Lithuania is very diverse, but probably the last thing Russians in Lithuania would want is for Russia to defend their interests, because it is Russia that has created the greatest problems for us," said Pavel Lavrinec, an associate professor at Vilnius University's Department of Slavic Studies, LRT, Re and Delfi Estonia reported.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia reject the accusations as politically motivated. Lithuanian officials say the claims are legally unfounded and intended to support Russian propaganda rather than secure a court victory. The State Security Department believes any proceedings would primarily serve as an information campaign, noting that ICJ cases typically last for years.

Investigators identified the Moscow law firm Monastyrsky, Zyuba, Stepanov & Partners as leading the legal effort on behalf of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Leaked correspondence also shows the firm recruited historians Nikolai Mezhevich and Vladimir Simindey to provide historical and political material supporting Moscow's case. Both have been linked by Baltic authorities to Russian influence operations, LRT, Re and Delfi Estonia found.

International law specialist Gleb Bogush warned that the Baltic states should treat the planned litigation seriously despite Russia's political motives. He argued that courts examine evidence and legal arguments rather than geopolitical narratives, making it essential for the Baltic governments to present a robust legal defence while denying Moscow opportunities to exploit the process for political gain, LRT, Re and Delfi Estonia reported.