DISINFO: The trial of the January 13 case in Lithuania is political and toxic
SUMMARY
The trial on the case of events of 13 January 1991 in Lithuania is political and toxic.
Vilnius is accusing Soviet soldiers of a clash with civil people but does not provide any evidence. Russia has many times accused Lithuania of violation of international law in the case of January 13. Lithuanian authorities are implementing a Russophobic course.
RESPONSE
The case contains historical revisionism and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the events of 13 January 1991, accusing Lithuania of Russophobia.
Lithuania officially restored its independence of state on 11 March 1990. Moscow used political and economic pressure to keep the republic as part of the USSR. In January 1991, Soviet troops together with the KGB's special forces “Alfa” seized the TV tower and building of the Radio and Television Committee in Vilnius. During these events, 14 civilians died, and many were injured. The civilians were peaceful and unarmed. They tried to protect the TV tower and Committee of Radio and Television from being attacked by Soviet soldiers.
The events of 13 January 1991 and crimes committed by the USSR troops have been extensively documented. See also BBC reporting from 1991.
Previous pro-Kremlin disinformation linked to the events of 13 January 1991 can be seen in the following cases: CIA was behind events in Vilnius in January 1991; In 1991 Lithuania needed “sacred victims”; Lithuanian judges broke the law in the case of January 13th.