Reports
Lithuania Weekly: Two years on since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
During this reporting week, Kremlin-aligned media were mainly concentrated on the upcoming Presidential elections and continued to spread anti-government sentiments. Even though this narrative is well-established, the current intensity of this narrative is remarkable: this may be directly associated with the Lithuanian elections due to take place later this year. Because of bypassing the years mark of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine during this reporting period, Kremlin-aligned outlets also discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine, claiming that “Lithuania will enter the war in Ukraine together with the Poles by sending their troops”. Articles criticised the government, stating that “Lithuania does not need the war with the Russians that this traitorous government is preparing “ and broadly portraying Ukraine’s victory as elusive and its government as “untrustworthy”.
Read moreLithuania Weekly: Weekly: Death of Alexei Navalny and undermining trust in NATO
Kremlin-aligned media outlets broadly commented on NATO and its possible faith. Outlets emphasised the questionable future of the organisation if Trump becomes the President, foreseeing that "it would be over for NATO". Outlets also pictured Ukraine's victory as impossible and ensured that "US and Europe have lost the war to Russia in Ukraine, and Crimea and Donbas will remain Russian territories". Outlets also speculated the reasons behind the death of “the US-funded and Western-praised” Alexei Navalny, seeking conspiracy theories of whom to blame and calling him “a Western puppet”.
Read moreLithuania Weekly: Putin’s interview
Kremlin-aligned media outlets were covering highly scattered topics during this reporting week. Among them, they widely discussed US journalist Tucker Carlson’s interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The authors claimed that the conversation touched on important topics such as the threat of war with NATO, the situation in Ukraine, and a possible global nuclear conflict.
Read moreLithuania Weekly: alleged embezzling of millions of euros
During this reporting week, Lithuania focused on one of the most significant financial crimes in recent history: the detainment of former BaltCap equity fund manager Šarūnas Stepukonis, suspected of misappropriating €27 million. In response to the scandal, BaltCap is withdrawing from several high-profile commitments. Notably, the investment fund has handed over the construction of the national stadium to another developer, causing delays and majorly increased costs. Pro-Kremlin outlets covered the Šarūnas Stepukonis case extensively, claiming he was not working alone and naming specific officials who “stood behind all of that”. Kremlin-aligned media outlets again used this domestic scandal to promote an anti-government narrative, accusing the current government of having direct ties with Stepukonis and jointly benefitting from the embezzlement.
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