On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the official digital infrastructure of Rēzekne, a major city in eastern Latvia, became the target of a sophisticated disinformation campaign. Unidentified hackers successfully breached the website of SIA “Rēzeknes Satiksme,” the municipal transport provider, to publish a fraudulent announcement regarding the launch of new international bus routes to Russia and Belarus.
The fake publication, titled “Information for Passengers: Planned Social Routes in the Eastern Direction,” claimed that the city would soon initiate regular bus services to several major cities across the border. The list of destinations included Vitebsk, Minsk, Pskov, Smolensk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Most provocatively, the hackers claimed these routes would operate under a special “social tariff,” implying subsidized travel to the Russian Federation and its ally, Belarus.
Municipal Transport Provider Issues Urgent Denial
SIA “Rēzeknes Satiksme” has issued a categorical denial of the report, confirming that the website was compromised and the information is entirely fabricated. The transport company clarified that it has not planned, nor does it have the mandate to organize, any such international routes. Furthermore, neither the municipal transport board nor the Rēzekne City Council has discussed or approved the implementation of a “social tariff” for cross-border travel.
Residents and travelers are urged to disregard any information regarding ticket pre-sales or upcoming schedules related to these eastern routes. The company has emphasized that all legitimate service updates are exclusively communicated through their official, verified channels and that this specific breach is being treated as a serious security incident.
Geopolitical Context of the Disinformation Campaign
While a website breach of a municipal transport provider might seem like a localized issue, the geographic and political context of Rēzekne makes this incident particularly sensitive. Located in the Latgale region, Rēzekne sits approximately 50 kilometers from the Russian border and 100 kilometers from the border with Belarus.
Since the escalation of regional tensions and the imposition of various travel restrictions and sanctions, cross-border movement has become a highly charged topic. The suggestion of “socially subsidized” travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg is viewed by security analysts as a classic example of hybrid warfare, designed to create confusion, test the responsiveness of local authorities, and potentially stir social division within the border regions of the European Union.
Identifying the Forged Council Documents
To add a veneer of legitimacy to the fake news, the hackers included a forged document purportedly representing an official decision by the Rēzekne City Council. The local government has since confirmed that no council meeting took place on the date mentioned in the forgery, and no decision matching the document’s serial number exists in the municipal archives.
The municipality has reminded the public that all authentic council decisions, meeting minutes, and official decrees are publicly accessible via the official city portal at www.rezekne.lv under the “Municipality” (Pašvaldība) and “Meetings” (Sēdes) sections. Any document circulating on social media or third-party sites that cannot be verified through this database should be treated as a forgery.
Guidance for Residents and Digital Safety
Local authorities have notified the relevant state security institutions and information technology security incident response teams (CERT.LV) to investigate the source of the breach. The goal is to identify the perpetrators and prevent further dissemination of misleading information that could impact public order.
For residents of the region and international observers, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of media literacy. Official advice remains consistent: always verify sensational news regarding international travel or government subsidies through multiple official sources. In this instance, the rapid response from the Rēzekne municipality has been crucial in debunking a narrative that could have had significant implications for border security perceptions.
Original reporting by: rezekne
Source: Rēzeknes valstspilsētas pašvaldība
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