Reports
Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin-Aligned Media Exploit Belarus Sanctions Rift
Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania intensified anti-government messaging last week by exploiting political friction over proposed sanctions on Belarus. Commentators praised MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis’ opposition to the measures while mocking Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys’ warnings about hybrid attacks, portraying Lithuanian security concerns as exaggerated. At the same time, the refusal of the Lithuanian Power Award by the “Šilainių sodai” initiative was reframed as an opportunity to attack President Nausėda and reinforce ongoing anti-government narratives.
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Lithuania Weekly: Kremlin Media Exploit Belarus Tensions
This week, pro-Kremlin outlets in Lithuania focused their coverage on debates surrounding Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and the country’s fraught relations with Belarus, alleging the government manipulates public messaging and stirs tensions for political gain. Concurrently, the narrative around low-flying balloon incidents was leveraged to question Lithuania’s crisis readiness, while commentator efforts to normalise rapprochement with Belarus surfaced in social-media circles – signalling persistent attempts to sway public perception and undermine Lithuania’s strategic alignment.
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Lithuania Weekly: Amplifying Žemaitaitis Hate Speech and Targeting Ukraine Support in Lithuania
This week, Kremlin-aligned media intensified efforts to exploit divisive rhetoric in Lithuania – from portraying MP Žemaitaitis as a victim of “leftist attacks” to amplifying Ignas Vėgėlė’s remarks questioning the Ukrainian flag in Seimas. These narratives, paired with the mocking of opposition appeals and nationwide protests, reflect a broader strategy to deepen polarization, discredit political actors, and undermine support for Ukraine.
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Lithuania Weekly: Žemaitaitis' Scandal Downplayed by Pro-Kremlin Media
Over the past week, Kremlin-aligned media in Lithuania focused on downplaying fears about Donald Trump's stance on Ukraine, portraying him as a peace-seeking leader and dismissing criticism of his foreign policy as hypocrisy. At the same time, these outlets amplified narratives that Western governments exaggerate the Russian threat to serve the interests of the military-industrial complex, accusing Lithuania of fearmongering to justify increased defense spending. Meanwhile, while Lithuanian media erupted over the Remigijus Žemaitaitis scandal, pro-Kremlin sources largely ignored it or framed him as a victim of political persecution rather than a politician caught deceiving his supporters.
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