A portal called „Eesti Eest!“ (For Estonia!), which has a history of spreading Kremlin narratives, recently published misleading claims about new NATO troop assignments. The article actually misrepresents a 2023 memorandum from Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs, which concerns potential amendments to Finland’s Infectious Disease Act.
The portal posted a screenshot of a document from the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, along with an Estonian translation, and used it to craft an article titled „BREAKING! Social media leaks information about NATO’s new assignments!“ The article was shared on Facebook by Ülle Pukk, a prominent member of the Koos party.
The Eesti Eest! portal, previously identified in 13 instances of spreading misinformation by Faktikontoll, is run by former EKRE member Mike Calamus and often positions itself as a „free speech“ platform.
The document used in the portal’s article is a request for opinions on potential amendments to Finland’s Infectious Disease Act. It covers various topics related to health preparedness and seeks public input for possible future legislative changes.
The section of the document cited by Eesti Eest! comes from Chapter 5, titled Finland and NATO Membership. This chapter highlights NATO’s significance to Finland since the outbreak of the Ukraine war and describes Finland’s cooperation with NATO’s Civilian Readiness Commission, which dates back to 1990 and includes biannual medical meetings.
The paragraph misrepresented by Eesti Eest! discusses Finland’s healthcare responsibilities as a NATO member. It underscores the need for Finland to develop its capacity to both provide and receive assistance. While NATO membership does not necessitate changes to Finland’s infectious disease legislation, the document suggests that updating the legislation could enable quicker responses during health crises.
Verdict: false. The shared content is from a Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health memorandum discussing potential legislative amendments. The document does not indicate any new NATO assignments or tasks.
