Minorities influenced by foreign intelligence services?

‘Intelligence agencies of foreign countries, whose activities are not in accordance with Lithuania’s national interest, are endeavouring to consolidate the minorities, strengthening their loyalty to their countries and weakening their integration with Lithuanian society,’ Lithuanian Security Department alerts. In the latest report about its activities, presented today in Lithuanian Parliament, most attention was devoted to minorities in a chapter “Factors influencing the spreading of information directly conflicting with the national interest in Lithuanian society.”

The report does not name the countries whose intelligence agencies are conducting “activities directly conflicting with Lithuanian national interest” but it speculates that their goal is “unstable economical and social situation in Lithuania” Right at the beginning there are photos from a march held by nationalists on March 11^th and from a gathering of Paleckis’ Socialist People’s Front; unambiguously directing the accusations.

Afterwards the Department lists “hostile” actions directed at the national interest ofLithuania:

“Exploiting the insecurity of the citizens, especially particular social and ethnic groups, as well as escalating inflammatory issues through the media and non-governmental organizations, loyal to foreign governments, the following are attempted:

·      consolidating the minorities, strengthening their loyalty to foreign governments and weakening their integration with Lithuanian society

·      perpetuating opinions aboutLithuania’s inevitable energy dependency from foreign countries

·      inciting ethnic, religious and political quarrels

·      politics of memory hostile toLithuania

·      discrediting Lithuanian domestic and foreign policy, as well as inciting public distrust towards NATO and EU

·      improving the image of non-democratic countries and supporting their policies.”

According to the Department “the masterminds behind the information backdrop unfavourable towardsLithuaniaand other Baltic countries” are “the subjects shaping foreign policies” of other countries countries, but also their news agencies, non-governmental organizations and scientific centres. “Intelligence agencies of foreign countries participate in this process as well. Informational campaigns are conducted by the media, movements and social organizations. Their actions are coordinated by foreign embassies inLithuania.”

The yearly report of the Security Department has been only partially revealed – the majority of it, presented to the Parliament is still confidential. The Marshal of Lithuanian Parliament Irena Degutienė approved of the decision to reveal parts of the report, particularly those concerning the energy security. ‘If society has more information, its views will change as well and perhaps the speculations accusing the politicians of seeing dangers that are not there will finally cease,’ she stated.

http://www.wilnoteka.lt/pl/artykul/mniejszosci-narodowe-pod-wplywem-obcych-sluzb

Tłumaczenie Andrzej Rola w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Andrzej Rola within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.