DISINFO: Lukashenka was Lithuania's economic god and benefactor
SUMMARY
The reorientation of Belarusian cargo flows from Lithuania may negatively affect its economy, and then the republic will face very grim consequences. Lithuania occupies a special position in the EU. It has been given many economic privileges, like Poland and the Czech Republic. […] The European Union is pursuing an expansionist policy, and Lithuania is the one that should pay for it. […] If Lithuania is left without Belarusian goods and loses this transit, it will face very dire consequences. Lukashenka was her God and benefactor in the economic sense.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation about Lithuanian economy and Belarus. The disinformation message appeared after the incumbent Belarusian president said he planned to reorient cargo flows away from Lithuanian ports and claimed that 30% of Lithuanian budget was formed by Belarusian cargo traffic. Belarusian cargo constitutes around 30% of load at Klaipėda port, however the article grossly exaggerates Lithuania's economic dependency on Belarus. Calculations show that the income from the Belarusian cargo transit constitutes roughly 1,4% of the income to the Lithuanian budget. The European Union is not pursuing an expansionist policy. Read more about the EU Eastern Partnership here.