Baltic lawmakers divide over tougher Russia restrictions

Lithuanian lawmakers disagree on whether the country should adopt a tougher stance towards Russia, LRT reported. Some argue that Lithuania is too tolerant of a hostile state and is falling behind Estonia and Latvia, while others say the Baltic countries should not compete over restrictions.

Žygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the opposition Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats faction, said Lithuania had faced criticism from its neighbours for failing to coordinate its positions sufficiently with Latvia and Estonia.

He said Estonian and Latvian politicians had accused Lithuania of being more tolerant towards Russian and Belarusian minorities in various situations.

Aušrinė Norkienė, a member of the ruling Lithuanian Union of Peasants, Greens and Christian Families faction, rejected that assessment. She said Lithuania was sufficiently principled on the Russia issue and that the country should not try to outdo Latvia and Estonia.

“Each country has its own specific circumstances,” Norkienė said, adding that Lithuania was principled enough and did not need to be the first to introduce every restriction.

Darius Kuolys, a cultural scholar, former culture and education minister and adviser to Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, said Lithuania should rely on its own traditions when considering restrictions related to Russian culture rather than simply follow the other Baltic states.

Latvia bans some Russian and Belarusian imports

Last week, the news channel Euronews reported that Latvia’s parliament had approved a ban on importing various Russian and Belarusian consumer goods that are not already covered by European Union sanctions. The list includes books, newspapers, video games, clothing, footwear, toys and sports equipment.

Latvia and Estonia are also gradually phasing out Russian-language schools, with the aim of conducting education only in the state language within the next five years.

Pavilionis said Lithuania should follow its neighbours by integrating more languages of European Union member states into the education system instead of financing education in Russian, which he said could carry “imperial ambitions”.

He argued that limited public funds should be directed towards learning EU languages rather than, during wartime, investing in the language of an occupying power that uses its language and culture to strengthen its empire.

Liberal lawmaker Eugenijus Gentvilas said Lithuania’s foreign policy towards the Kremlin was clear, but that some decisions at the national level still lacked determination.

Gentvilas said the Russian language might appear harmless but could serve as an instrument of brainwashing. He argued that many older people in rural areas had not learned other languages and continued to read Russian-language news portals, leaving Lithuania in a “Soviet space”.