Main narratives:
- Questioning the country’s security;
- Scepticism towards NATO functionality;
- The incompetence of the current government.
Overview:
Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media operating in Lithuania actively questioned the country’s future as an independent state. Provocative headlines echoed narratives such as the “collapse of the Landsbergis project,” painting a picture of inevitable failure for modern Lithuania. Doubts were also cast on the reliability of international partners, with pointed questions like: “Lithuania is a NATO member – but does that mean safety, or the risk of becoming a battlefield?”, to lower trust in Lithuania’s allies.
One story that gained significant traction on malign media was based on a selectively quoted statement suggesting that the unemployed may soon be required to join the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. The phrase was prominently used as a headline, sparking a wave of outrage. However, reading the article revealed it was merely a proposal from a single politician regarding potential new conditions for receiving unemployment benefits. No official policy has been adopted, yet the startling headline alone provoked strong emotional responses, with critics comparing the idea to Soviet-era youth organizations such as the Pioneers or Little Octobrists.
Interestingly, while independent media spent much of last week thoroughly analyzing the scandals surrounding Gintautas Paluckas, Kremlin-aligned outlets almost completely ignored the story. Despite ongoing revelations related to financial debts and other questionable practices, pro-Kremlin outlets either skipped the story entirely or downplayed it, defending Paluckas and insisting the situation was not severe enough to warrant political fallout.
