Main narratives:
- General anti-government sentiments;
- Undermining threat from Russia/Belarus;
- The incompetence of the current government.
Overview:
Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania continued to focus heavily on the controversy surrounding the stripping of an award from Eduardas Vaitkus following his trip to Belarus. This topic dominated attention, with three out of five of the most engaged pro-Kremlin media pieces centering on the award revocation and sharp criticism of the Lithuanian government, especially President Gitanas Nausėda. Stripping of the award was widely exploited to question the government’s legitimacy and paint it as authoritarian and out of touch.
In this context, Lithuanian publisher Vitas Tomkus wrote an opinion piece titled “I’m Also Returning My Award – Let the Government Choke on It!” harshly criticizing the current administration. Tomkus ironically declared his state awards worthless, arguing they are given not for genuine merit but as rewards for political loyalty and opportunism. While he framed his protest as a defense of true national values and independence, the rhetoric mirrored Kremlin-aligned narratives by discrediting Lithuania’s Western-oriented leadership, portraying the government as corrupt and unpatriotic, and suggesting it betrays its people.
Such narratives, widely amplified and engaged across social platforms, not only defended Vaitkus but also sought to delegitimize Lithuania’s leadership as authoritarian and completely disconnected from its people.
