The official Russian MFA site Tweeted, just after dinner time:
❗In the early 90s the Baltic nations gained their national independence.This event raised hopes & aspirations the Baltic Soviet Republics would turn into modern democratic & rule-of-law states, which, unfortunately, never came true. ?Read the full text?https://t.co/aA90iu05sQ pic.twitter.com/xtOsMRDT9M
— MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) August 27, 2019
The error-strewn claim was accompanied by an image of three somewhat dog-eared looking pamphlets titled "The Heritage of WWII in the Baltic States" [sic], apparently authored by mysteriously unspecified "Non Governmental Organizations".
For reasons that remain equally enigmatic, yet presumably contain deep significance and drama, the static image of these pamphlets is subjected to a flare or strobe effect which renders the whole thing psychedelic in the manner of early Pink Floyd concert footage.
Anyone interested enough to surrender their online click data to the Russian MFA will eventually wind up at a Facebook page which expands slightly on the theme of how awful the Baltic states are and how brilliant Russia, and particularly Soviet Russia, is in contrast.
Whether the Russian MFA's sense of self-worth was miffed by the huge amount of positive coverage of the Baltic states during Baltic Way celebrations, by the large amount of negative coverage of Moscow riot police beating peaceful protesters, or its ire originated from deeper and darker psychological wellsprings is difficult to say without a lengthy course of gestalt therapy.
However, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs provided a concise commentary.
There has never been such thing as Baltic Soviet Republics, the Baltic States were occupied by the Soviet Union as part of Hitler-Stalin deal, ?? ?? ?? regained independence and now are modern, democratic and rule- of-law states. There are lies, big lies and @mfa_russia tweets? https://t.co/tf7aEAmkr0
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) August 27, 2019