Lithuanian presidential candidate spreads a message favorable to the Kremlin / Article

Today, 17:46

Authors:
Anete Berzkalne (fact checker of Latvijas Radio)

Vaitkus is a doctor by education, a former advisor to the Minister of Health, but has come into the spotlight because of his scandalous and pro-Russian statements.

In 2022, Lithuanian National Radio and Television in cooperation with Latvian TVNET and Polish “Newsweek” news media concluded that Vaitkus is one of the most active distributors of Kremlin propaganda in Lithuania.

He is also related to Algirdas Palecki, who was already convicted by Lithuania in 2021 for espionage for Russia.

Vaitkus has shared various false statements that reflect Russian propaganda. Lithuania’s Central Election Commission initially did not allow his campaign program to be distributed because it said, for example, that the Lithuanian government allows Ukrainian refugees to break the law and that NATO is an aggressive organization that aims to destroy Russia.

He has called on Lithuania to withdraw from NATO and claims that Russia does not pose a threat to its neighboring countries – the Baltics should rather beware of the USA.

Vaitkus also claims that the fake referendum held there in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea was legal, although neither Ukraine nor the European Union recognizes it as such.

The results of the already mentioned media research showed that similar disinformation messages are being spread in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, suggesting a coordinated activity.

It should be noted that Tatjana Ždanoka, Andrejs Mamikins and Vladimirs Lindermans were mentioned among the most active distributors of Russian propaganda in Latvia. Ždanoka also actively defended Palecki, who was convicted of espionage in Lithuania.

A few days ago, the Lithuanian portal “Delfi” reported that another presidential candidate – Giedrims Jeglinskis – received a fake invitation to give an interview to the Russian opposition news portal “Meduza”. However, later this interview, already in an embellished version, was published in the propaganda media of the ruling regime in Belarus.

“Meduza” confirmed that it has not contacted Jeglinski and that someone has apparently posed as its journalist. Jeglinski himself called on his colleagues to be careful and carefully evaluate which journalists they should talk to.

CONTEXT:

The President of Lithuania is elected by popular vote. The first round of the presidential election will be held on May 12. Eight candidates are running for the position of president.

The main favorite is the current head of state Gitan Nausėda, who is running for a second term. His main competitors are the current Prime Minister Ingrīda Šimonīte and the lawyer Igns Vēgēle.

If none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, two weeks later, on May 26, the second round of the presidential election will be held, in which the two strongest candidates will compete.

At the same time as the presidential elections, a referendum will be held in Lithuania on changes to the national constitution, which envisages allowing dual citizenship. At least 50% of the voters will have to vote for the proposal to gain support.

This is an election year in Lithuania, as the European Parliament elections will be held on June 9, and the Seimas elections are planned for October.