Main narratives:
- General anti-government sentiments
- Anti-support for Ukraine
- The incompetence of the current government
- The Conservative Party is to blame for everything bad in the country.
Overview:
This week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania gave significant attention to the statements made by MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who, in a Facebook post, speculated about the Jewish heritage of diplomat and former minister Arūnas Gelūnas and accused him of orchestrating a “state coup.” The post triggered a pre-trial investigation for incitement of hatred. Malign outlets closely followed the situation, framing Žemaitaitis as a victim of relentless “leftist attacks” and urging followers to support him publicly.
Recent remarks by lawyer and public figure Ignas Vėgėlė, who questioned why the Ukrainian flag continues to hang in the Seimas chamber, were also gaining substantial traction. Vėgėlė claimed to have formally addressed the Seimas Chancellery about the constant display of a foreign nation’s flag. Kremlin-aligned commentators praised his stance, with replies such as “Bravo, what nonsense – hang Israel’s flag next, you lunatics,” while others rhetorically questioned whether the Ukrainian flag was now more valuable than Lithuania’s own. Such messaging, though subtle, was aimed at lessening public support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war, feeding into broader anti-Ukrainian sentiment.
Additionally, Kremlin-aligned outlets mocked a recent appeal by opposition members urging the President to cut ties between the Ministry of Culture and the controversial “Nemuno Aušra” party. The same outlets dismissed last week’s nationwide mass protests, held in opposition to Ignotas Adomavičius, who was being positioned for a leading role in the ministry. The demonstrations were downplayed as politically staged events, reinforcing a narrative that such resistance to new figures is part of an elite-driven agenda.
These developments illustrate the ongoing efforts by Kremlin-aligned actors to polarize Lithuanian society, discredit political opposition, and erode support for democratic institutions and Ukraine through culturally charged and emotionally resonant narratives.
