Pro-Russian individuals contribute to the implementation of hostile states’ goals in Lithuania

Lithuanian nationals who support the Russian regime and its aggressive policies assist in the implementation of hostile Belarusian and Russian information and history policies towards Lithuania. They collaborate with employees from Belarusian and Russian propaganda outlets, grant them interviews, and participate in anti-Lithuanian propaganda campaigns. In interviews with Russian or Belarusian propaganda outlets, these pro-Russian individuals portray Lithuania as an undemocratic state under Western control, with a Nazi and Russophobic regime in power. They claim that elections are undemocratic and illegitimate, that freedom of speech is restricted, and that Lithuanian citizens are persecuted based on their nationality and political views. They also accuse Lithuania of interfering in Belarus’s internal affairs and inciting war with Russia, while advocating cooperation with these countries’ autocratic regimes. By taking these actions, pro-Russian individuals are helping the Belarusian and Russian regimes to spread propaganda against Lithuania.

The activities of pro-Russian individuals that violate Lithuanian law are prevented by legal means. Consequently, some pro-Russian individuals who wish to avoid legal responsibility flee to Belarus or Russia, where they actively engage in activities directed against Lithuania. They actively cooperate with the Russian and Belarusian regimes, implement their information and history policy objectives to undermine Lithuanian statehood, and express support for the activities of pro-Russian groups operating in Lithuania. Those who fled to Russia or Belarus face financial difficulties and a lack of social connections. They only interact with a small group of fellow pro-Russian individuals who have also fled the Baltic States and are forced to carry out constant instructions from Russian and Belarusian entities in exchange for a small reward.

Edikas Jagelavičius, a Lithuanian national hiding from Lithuanian law enforcement in Belarus, presents the programme ‘Neighbours’ on the Belarusian regime-controlled radio station ‘Belarus’, which regularly broadcasts anti-Lithuanian propaganda. Jagelavičius is wanted for assisting another state in carrying out hostile activities. He has also been charged with forging documents when setting up a pro-Russian association in Lithuania, which organised trips to Belarus and Russia and carried out activities favourable to these countries.

Giedrius Grabauskas, one of the authors of the Russian propaganda book ‘The History of Lithuania’, is hiding from Lithuanian law enforcement in Russia. The book promotes a narrative that undermines Lithuanian statehood in line with Russia’s history policy objectives. Grabauskas is currently facing criminal charges in Lithuania for defaming the Lithuanian anti-Soviet resistance movement.

Giedrius Grabauskas and Edikas Jagelavičius
A frame from a Youtube video

The tendency of pro-Russian activists to flee to Belarus or Russia has been observed in all the Baltic States. This intensified after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when pro-Russian activities began to face stricter restrictions. The movement ‘Baltic Community “Together”’ (Pribaltiyiskoye Zemlyachestvo ‘Vmeste’) was established in Russia to unite pro-Russian activists who had fled the Baltic States to Russia. Jagelavičius and Grabauskas also participate in meetings of this movement.

The Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad, which is subject to EU sanctions, finances the legal defence of pro-Russian public figures in Lithuania and their initiatives within international organisations that are directed against Lithuania and in Russia’s favour. By doing so, Russia is attempting to support the activities of pro-Russian groups in Lithuania and discredit the country in the eyes of the international community.