DISINFO: Lithuania lost the "liberal curtain" after repressing the protests at home
SUMMARY
When Western countries face protests, they lose the "liberal curtain". For example, a meeting against restrictions directed at citizens who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus took place on 10 August in Vilnius. Police used tear gas against protesters. This shows how the smell of democracy disappears when Western countries need to manage situations inside the country and repress the protests at home.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania.
A rally against the Lithuanian government's COVID-19 measures took place on the 10 August 2021 in front of the Lithuanian Parliament. The protest began in the morning and should have ended at 17:00hrs. A few hundred protesters stayed near the parliament after the official end of the meeting. They blocked members of the parliament inside the building, refused to follow police instructions and attacked journalists. Police used special measures when all other means had been exchaused. 26 people were detained. Read more about the protest here. Information about riots after the meeting and the results of it can be found here.
Lithuania is a democratic country that protects the rule of law. The most recent Freedom House report qualifies Lithuania as a democracy with an aggregate freedom score of 90 out of 100. "Lithuania is a democracy in which political rights and civil liberties are generally respected," the report says. I.e. in the category of “Freedom of Expression and Belief”, Lithuania got a maximum score (4 points) in sectors of religion and academic freedom, as well as in the sector of individual freedom to express personal views on political and other topics. In the sector of freedom and independence of media, Lithuania got 3 points (from 4).
See other similar disinformation cases accusing Lithuania of violation of human rights, or claiming that Lithuanian authorities are violating the rights of Russian-speaking people, or asserting that Lithuania is a totalitarian country.