Belarusian state radio broadcasts reach Lithuanian border region
A Russian-speaking pensioner vacationing near Lake Pailgis in the Švenčionys district reported that his radio, instead of receiving the usual Russian-language “Radio R,” picked up Belarusian state radio broadcasts for several consecutive days, LRT.lt reports.
According to the pensioner, the broadcasts contained propaganda-style content, including claims about Belarus’ economic growth, agricultural successes, and national achievements. He described the programming as “pure Soviet propaganda.”
A conversation with a local worker at the recreation base further highlighted the issue. The worker, who lives just 14 km from the Belarusian border, regularly listens to Belarusian radio and expressed belief in its narratives, stating that “everything is fine in Belarus—salaries are paid, the economy is growing.”
Political analyst Artyom Shraibman of the Berlin-based Carnegie Center, specializing in Russia and Eurasia, confirmed that Lithuania has long been a primary target of Minsk’s propaganda efforts. “Lithuania is one of the main opponents in the eyes of Belarusian propaganda. This status has practically never changed,” he told LRT.lt.
The Communications Regulatory Authority noted that Lake Pailgis’ low-lying location may facilitate signal reception. One persistent narrative in Belarusian propaganda remains the critique of open borders and visa-free regimes.
Shraibman added that Belarusian authorities often portray Lithuania as a “small and harmful country.”
This incident echoes a recent situation in Latvia, where residents near the border began massively tuning into Belarusian state radio after the shutdown of the Russian-language Latvian Radio 4 broadcasts in Daugavpils and border regions. Under certain meteorological conditions, the broadcasts were even audible in Riga.
Jorūnė Mikulėnaitė-Baušienė, head of the Electronic Communications Resource Management Group at the Communications Regulatory Authority, stated that 23 Lithuanian radio stations are available in Švenčionys.