Main narratives:
- General anti-government sentiments;
- The incompetence of the government;
- Discrediting Ukraine and its effort to win the war.
Overview:
This reporting week, Kremlin-aligned media outlets were particularly active on the YouTube platform, with the most engaged content consisting almost exclusively of videos belonging to the same channel. The content heavily criticised Lithuania’s newly elected government, positioning it as “nothing new but just new faces singing the same old tune.” The videos accused the country’s leaders in general of warmongering, claiming that those in power are profiting from the war and that the conflict is beneficial to them. This narrative was further amplified with statements suggesting a bleak outlook for the country’s future, with notable comments such as “Gaila mūsų visų ateities, jokios šviesos tunelio gale” (“We pity our collective future, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel”). Some texts also nostalgically referred to the old times as better than present-day Lithuania, painting free and independent Lithuania negatively.
In addition to these accusations, the videos promoted conspiracy theories about a so-called “political scheme” allegedly draining money from Lithuania. This portrayal was combined with claims that the government is untrustworthy and self-serving, focused on personal goals while neglecting electoral promises. The criticism was leveled even before the new administration officially began its work, indicating efforts to undermine public trust. This narrative aligns with broader Kremlin-backed disinformation strategies, which aim to erode confidence in democratic institutions and leaders. High engagement levels on the platform suggest that the content resonated with its target audience, fostering further dissatisfaction and pessimism.
