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Disinfo: Lithuania’s president is the EU’s puppet, Lithuania is not sovereign

Summary

Lithuania’s policy towards Belarus is ambiguous. On the one hand, the Lithuanian leadership criticises Belarus. On the other hand, its economy is very dependent on Belarusian tourists. Without them, Lithuania’s membership of the EU would probably not last for a year. Lithuania can be named the country without a president, because its president is a puppet of the EU’s government. Lithuanians have lost their sovereignty due to the irresponsible actions of their government.

Disproof

This publication is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narratives about lost sovereignty and socio-economic degradation in the Baltic countries.

Lithuania is an independent state, which makes sovereign decisions about its foreign and domestic policy. Its president is not the EU's, or any foreign country's, puppet. 2019 statistics show that the Baltic states demonstrated one of the leading economic growth indicators in the EU. The dynamics within the last years can be seen here.

The publication greatly exaggerates Lithuania's economy reliance on Belarusian tourists. The total contribution of tourism was estimated to amount to 4.9% of GDP in 2018. Tourists from Belarus are outnumbered by Polish, Russian, and German visitors, official statistics show.

See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the US is occupying the EU and the Baltic countries nearly lost their statehood, that Lithuania is NATO's dog barking at Belarus and Russia, that Lithuania is temporarily NATO-occupied territory ruled by non-Lithuanians, that Lithuania is a "typical dying young democracy", and that the Baltic states are dying because they chose not to be with Russia.

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publication/media

Grodnodaily (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 199
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/05/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: EU, Lithuania, Belarus
  • Keywords: fake statistics, Puppets, Economic difficulties, Baltic states

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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US feeds Polish, Austrian, and Hungarian imperialistic ambitions

The Three Seas Initiative received a new impetus in 2016 due to migration crisis in the EU. The US sees it as a geopolitical buffer and develops close cooperation with its twelve member states with the aim of counteracting the development of gas transportation infrastructure between Russia and Western Europe.

The American political class feeds the ambitions of the Three Seas Initiative countries for its own interests. Poland dreams of becoming the center of restored Rzeczpospolita, Hungary wishes to gather the lands under King Saint Stephen, and Austria would like to return to the Habsburg Empire’s possessions. When the situation presents itself, these countries will oppose the EU and attempt to return to their imperial past.

The EU has become the USSR’s antipode. Upon victory in the Cold War, the West began to enlarge eastward at expense of east European countries, which it previously devastated.

 

June 15, 2020
Disproof

This article is consistent with pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives about the US presence in Europe, alleging that the United States controls the foreign policy of EU member states, the EU's imminent collapse and about Poland's ''imperial dreams''.

The statement that the Three Seas Initiative is an anti-Russian and anti-EU project fully controlled by the USA is a conspiracy theory. The Three Seas Initiative is a forum of 12 countries from Central and Eastern Europe launched in 2015. The main goal of this Initiative is to promote better connectivity among the Member States, with a particular focus on infrastructure and energy. The main projects discussed at the forums of the Three Seas Initiative are the Via Carpathia, Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, Via Baltica, Rail Baltica and the LNG infrastructure in Poland and Croatia.

EU sanctions are asphyxiating the Syrian people

The European Union is supporting the intensification of the blockade and sanctions against Syria, aiming to asphyxiate a subdued nation through the execution of the so-called Caesar Act. The EU extends year after year since 2012 the freezing of Syrian bank accounts and agreed loans, and the cancellation of any commercial agreement, even those referred to health and technological supplies. All this contributes to a serious lack of liquidity in foreign currencies for Syria, hurting the lifestyle of the population, the services for infrastructures and especially the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

June 15, 2020
Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about sanctions.

EU sanctions on Syria are targeted at individuals and entities who ordered or carried out attacks and torture against their own people, made or used chemical weapons, built their personal fortune thanks to the war. EU sanctions are designed in a way that only targets these people and these activities, avoiding any negative impact on the population. There is no economic war on Syria or the Syrian people.