5. Aug 2025

Russian-speaking TikTok influencer Alissia: ‘I Hope Estonia Dies Out’

The TikTok account @lisya.kte—operated by a young Russian-speaking woman based in Tallinn—has come under growing scrutiny from the pro-Ukrainian online community “Роисся24/7” (over 44 000 followers) on Facebook after a video surfaced in which the user made a series of statements that may echo well-known Russian state propaganda narratives. The video gained over 571 reactions, 230 comments, and over 19,000 views on “Роисся24/7”, more than the original video on TikTok. The video was first shared on April 1, 2025, but kept circulating for a longer period of time, gaining attention from different pro-Estonia and pro-Ukraine communities online.

In the widely circulated clip, the user, who stated her actual name is Alissia, alleges that Russians are persecuted in Estonia and claims that the actual number of Russians living in the country is significantly underreported in official statistics. She also expresses frustration that many Estonians living in Estonia do not speak Russian and make no effort to learn it, framing the situation as exclusionary toward the Russian-speaking population.

The most contentious moment in the video comes when she concludes:

“It’s just easier to leave the country than to learn this f— Estonian. Maybe the country dies out then.”

In one such video, the user @lisya.kte/Alissia (2713 followers on TikTok to date) claims that it is “very difficult to find a job in Estonia” for people with Russian-sounding last names, even if they speak fluent Estonian—echoing long-standing disinformation narratives about systemic discrimination against Russian speakers in the Baltic States. She further accuses Ukrainian refugees of being “freeloaders” and expresses opposition to offering them support, reinforcing a message commonly seen in Russian-state-backed media that seeks to erode sympathy for Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Notably, in the same video, @lisya.kte/Alissia admits to having secretly obtained a second citizenship, despite knowing that this violates Estonian law. She also reveals that other members of her family have done the same.

While the majority of content on @lisya.kte/Alissia’s TikTok account consists of lip-sync performances, dance clips, and commentary on everyday topics, some videos offer brief insights into her personal life and professional background. One such video—titled “Thank you, ChatGPT”—appears to confirm that she graduated from Tallinna Tervishoiu Kõrgkool (Tallinn Health Care College), suggesting a background in the medical or healthcare field. In another post, she states that she works at the Lääne-Tallinna Õendusabi Kliinik (West Tallinn Nursing Clinic).

In another TikTok video, Alissia responded to a set of six questions she claims were sent to her by the Russian-language outlet Postimees RUS.

In the same video, Alissia expressed her frustration with the moderation of comments on related social media posts. No examples of who deleted the posts or comments and what posts/comments were deleted were given. Alissia claimed this proves that “there is no actual democracy in Estonia.” The assertion echoes a frequent narrative in Russian propaganda, which seeks to discredit democratic institutions in neighboring countries by portraying them as hypocritical or repressive.

She also mentioned being asked whether she knowingly or unknowingly spreads Russian propaganda. Rather than answering, she countered with the rhetorical question, “Does speaking Russian in Estonia count as Russian propaganda?” This framing taps into another well-worn Kremlin talking point—that Russian speakers are allegedly persecuted or marginalized in the Baltic States, particularly Estonia and Latvia.

The TikTok creator emphasized that she is not interested in politics and refused to say whether she receives any financial support from Russia or elsewhere. When asked about Russia’s war against Ukraine, she stated, “I have no opinion on Russian aggression against Ukraine.” This neutral stance on a matter of international condemnation is a common tactic used by pro-Kremlin influencers, aiming to appear apolitical while avoiding criticism of Moscow.

Finally, she concluded the video by stating that she does not permit Postimees RUS to publish anything about her, and according to Propastop’s information, no article about her appeared on Postimees RUS.

In another video, @lisya.kte sharply criticizes the closure of state-funded Russian-language kindergartens and schools in Estonia, arguing that “they were always here and no one was against it.” She notes that she herself graduated from one of these Russian-speaking schools in another video. Additionally, she accuses Postimees RUS of trying to intimidate the Russian-speaking community by asking those questions.

The defense of Russian-language schools and the assertion that Postimees RUS seeks to “scare” Russians are consistent with prominent Kremlin narratives, which include the demonization of independent media as antagonistic to the Russian minority, the portrayal of Estonia as oppressing Russian speakers, and the framing of integration policies as cultural erasure.

Despite her claims of being apolitical, @lisya.kte perpetuates Kremlin-aligned narratives on media repression, discrimination, and neutrality toward Ukraine, transforming her platform into a covert instrument of Russian influence, whether on purpose or not.

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