During the Soviet times, Lithuania was a “showcase of communism” and one of the most comfortable countries for the living. Now, when it joined the EU, Lithuania has nothing to boast about.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania and "decaying" Baltic States.
In this case it aims to portray the alleged weakness of Lithuanian economy compared to the other countries of the EU and even compared to its own Soviet times economy.
The numbers show a situation opposite to the one painted by the article. The economic situation in Lithuania is assessed as one of the best in Europe. Also, according to the OECD the Lithuanian economy has rebounded rapidly from the pandemic shock of COVID-19.
The economy of Lithuania is constantly growing since the mid-1990s. The survey in 2020 showed that 58.1 per cent of inhabitants of Lithuania is satisfied with changes in the country since Soviet times, 28.4 per cent is not, and 13.5 have no opinion.
See similar examples of disinformation: Lithuania is a poor country with gloomy economic perspectives; The Baltic countries had well-developed economies during the Soviet era; The Baltic countries live mainly at the expense of the EU budget.
The events in Kazakhstan are another attempt at a "colour revolution". "Revolution" in Kazakhstan before negotiations with Russia is very beneficial for the US.
It is also done to divert Russia's attention from the deployment of missile launchers in Poland and Romania and the integration of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO.
These events erase the last hope for the constructiveness of the upcoming negotiations.
This claim advances an emerging pro-Kremlin narrative alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan are part of a US policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.
The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors supported by foreign powers who constantly prepare new coups.
Under pressure from US intelligence agencies, Western officials and media have recently accused Moscow of massing troops and military forces with the intention of invading Ukraine.
This claim is part of a current disinformation campaign aiming to deflect attention away from Russia’s military build-up on its border with Ukraine since late October 2021 by accusing Western media of only reporting on this issue because they are pressured by US intelligence agencies.
Contrary to the claim, reports and expressions of concern about military preparations and mobilisation of Russian troops is not a “campaign against Russia”, but a fact confirmed by satellite images and intelligence of the US, Ukraine and NATO, among other countries and institutions. See for example the 16 December NATO statement calling on Russia to immediately de-escalate tension. See also the 24 January 2022 EU statement condeming Russia’s continued aggressive actions and threats against Ukraine.
It is clear that no country is more interested in destabilising Kazakhstan than the United States, and Turkey is the next potential beneficiary.
In general, Washington's policy of dragging Russia into conflicts on its borders is old and well known. The role of the United States in the Ukrainian and Belarus coups is clear, and the role of Turkey, a member of NATO, in the Karabakh war is also clear.
And if chaos or civil war breaks out in Kazakhstan, Russia will have to send troops there, which will weaken its ability to resist the US on other fronts.
A new disinformation around the crisis in Kazakhstan presented with no evidence.
The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The disinformation narrative has been applied, among others, to reports about protests in Georgia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Venezuela, Slovakia, Hong Kong, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors supported by foreign powers who constantly prepare new coups.
