DISINFO: Actions of Soviet soldiers at the Vilnius TV tower in 1991 were absolutely legitimate

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: Actions of Soviet soldiers at the Vilnius TV tower in 1991 were absolutely legitimate

SUMMARY

The actions of Soviet soldiers at the Vilnius TV tower in 1991 were absolutely legitimate, as they were protecting the constitutional order of Soviet Lithuania.

After the coup e’tat took place in Lithuania it started demanding reparations for “Soviet occupation”, despite the fact that whole infrastructure and industry was built during the Soviet times. It is all gone now.

RESPONSE

Historical revisionism and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the events of January 13th, 1991.

Lithuania has restored its independence on March 11th, 1990. On January 13th, 1991, Soviet troops still garrisoned in the capital Vilnius attacked its TV broadcast tower and sole TV station, killing civilians standing as human shields there. The events of the January 13th, 1991, and the offences committed by the USSR troops have been extensively documented. See also BBC reporting from 1991.

The disinformation message is consistent with a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative denying the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. See a similar disinformation case: the Baltic States are perpetuating a myth of Soviet occupation.

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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