The perception of police messages in Estonian and Russian language communities in Estonia during times of crisis

Abstract

Two major crises, the COVID-19 crisis of 2019-2021 and the subsequent Ukraine conflict that began in 2022, have had a significant impact on the global political and social landscape. These crises necessitated the implementation of new rules and restrictions, which were communicated to the public through government orders and media channels. However, it became evident that there were divergent understandings and attitudes towards these measures within Estonian society. This highlights the importance of enhancing public awareness and responsiveness during crises. This research aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of how messages from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board are received and interpreted, specifically targeting the Estonian and Russian-speaking communities. By comparing comprehension and interpretation of messages among these language groups, valuable insights can be gained for the development of more effective public awareness campaigns. The study was conducted between September 2022 and April 2023, yielding significant findings that can guide the design of campaigns to ensure universal understanding across Estonia’s two largest language communities. The results of this study may be of interest to law enforcement agencies in Estonia and other countries, as they can provide valuable insights for correcting and improving the communication strategies of law enforcement agencies when interacting with multicultural populations and ensuring effective public notifications.