DISINFO: Lithuania is guilty of the bad relations with Russia
SUMMARY
Ambassador of Lithuania in Russia Eitvydas Bajarunas complains that in Russia Lithuania is seen as a “small evil Russophobic state which only thinks how to hurt Russia”. He thinks that this stereotype is popular among the inhabitants of Russia.
The relations between Russia and Lithuania got worse during the period of governance of President Dalia Grybauskaite. She was famous for anti-Russian statements and Russophobic position. Nowadays authorities are keeping this position and regularly talk about the “Russian threat”.
This year “Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats” party become part of the ruling coalition. Representatives of mentioned party constantly make statements about the threat of “Russian influence” and risks for national security. They are famous for their Russophobic position, criticals statements about Russia and radical offers.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow is ready to collaborate with Vilnius on principles of good neighbourliness. He wants to see a similar position from the colleagues in Lithuania.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia in Lithuania.
The concerns about the security of Lithuania are being presented as elements of the anti-Russian position. Lithuania's assessment of the security environment are directly related to the Kremlin's illegal annexation of Crimea and armed aggression in Ukraine.
The “National security strategy 2017” of Lithuania notes:
“Capacity of the Russian Federation to use military and economic, energy, information and other non-military measures in combination against the neighbouring countries, ability to exploit and create internal problems of the states located in the Eastern neighbourhood of the Republic of Lithuania as well as preparedness of the Russian Federation to use a nuclear weapon even against the states which do not possess it is a challenge to the security of the Republic of Lithuania and the whole Euro-Atlantic community.”
Such assessment is in line with NATO, which said in 2018 that:
"Russia’s aggressive actions, including the threat and use of force to attain political goals, challenge the Alliance and are undermining Euro-Atlantic security and the rules-based international order".
Lithuania quite often is presented by Kremlin-backed propaganda as a “Russophobic state”. See similar examples: Lithuania will not buy the Russian vaccine due to its anti-Russian position; Political regime in Lithuania is Russophobic; The only idea that strongly unites Lithuania society is Russophobia.