DISINFO: Lithuania is using Tatar minority as a weapon against Moscow
SUMMARY
The Tatar minority in Lithuania became a “weapon” in the political struggle against Moscow in the context of the status of Crimea. Vilnius showed special interest in its Tatar minority after Crimea joined Russia in 2014. Lithuania started to support the radical flank of Tatars, who refuse to recognise the results of the referendum regarding the status of the peninsula. It shows that Lithuanian authorities are manipulating the feelings of Tatars to satisfy their own political ambitions.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation linked to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.
Lithuania, as the whole EU and other international bodies, has not recognised the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. On 21 June 2021, the EU renewed sanctions for a further year until 23 June 2022.
Tatars are amongst the ethnic minorities who historically lived on the territory of Lithuania. Some Crimean Tatars moved to the territory of Great Dutch of Lithuania in the XIV century when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas formed a union with Tatars. Today the ethnic group of Tatars in Lithuania is quite small and represents 0.1 per cent of the population of Lithuania. Lithuanian parliament has also declared 2021 as the Year of Lithuanian Tatar History and Culture.
See other examples of disinformation attempting to legitimise the annexation of Crimea: Crimea’s return to Russia restored historical justice; Referendum in Crimea was held in strict accordance with international law; Crimea is primordially Russian land.