Main narratives:
- Anti-government sentiments;
- Questioning the transparency of the politicians;
- Speculating alleged ties between specific politicians and Russia.
Overview:
During this reporting week, Kremlin-aligned media mainly held on the BaltCap’s case, as the recent internal investigation found Šarūnas Stepukonis may have embezzled even €40.4 million, and the fact that MP Justas Džiugelis has suspended his membership at the ruling Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democratic (TS-LKD) party and left the party’s group at the Seimas amid reports of his ties to a gambling lobbyist. Outlets have taken these closely associated stories to further exploit the anti-government sentiments and portray the government as highly corrupt. MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, well-known for his anti-state propositions, drew direct parallels between the candidate for President and current Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Russia after her team accidentally “parroted” Putin’s election slogan, Žemaitaitis drew the whole conservatives’ party down, accusing them of working for Russia.
