Lithuanian investigation uncovers coordinated propaganda network on Facebook led by Žemaitaitis

A coordinated and systematically managed disinformation infrastructure operates on Facebook, primarily aiming to undermine trust in Lithuania’s state institutions, defence policy, and geopolitical direction, according to a study by narrative analysis firm Repsense, as reported by LRT.

The investigation, which analysed nearly 800,000 public posts and comments over three months, revealed that identical content was deliberately spread across different groups. The network’s main target was Lithuania’s government institutions, defence policy, and geopolitical stance.

“This study marks the first time we’ve systematically processed nearly 800,000 posts and comments, exposing the entire chain of this coordinated network’s operations,” said Mykolas Katkus, head of Repsense. “We can now clearly demonstrate that this is not random content with spontaneous reactions but an active, coordinated infrastructure.”

The analysis identified six core and 26 satellite Facebook groups functioning as an interconnected distribution system. Researchers documented nearly 49,000 cases of cross-group copying, where the same text appeared in multiple groups within hours. The content of Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the far-right group Nemuno aušra (Dawn of Nemunas), achieved the highest visibility in the network, with his posts systematically republished in five of the six main groups.

Other active figures included Mindaugas Puidokas and former presidential candidate Eduardas Vaitkus. While the study did not determine why Žemaitaitis’ content was most frequently shared, the data clearly showed his posts became a key tool for reinforcing coordinated narratives, distinguishing him from other Lithuanian politicians whose content circulated far less.

The attacks targeted both the ruling coalition and opposition, with particular focus on President Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginienė, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, and former Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. The network’s strategy relied not on a single ideological direction but on consistently eroding trust in state institutions, often portraying the same politicians from opposing perspectives—such as criticising Ruginienė for both overly harsh and overly lenient policies toward Belarus.

The six core groups—Informacinis Klubas (Information Club), Taika, Tiesa, Tvarka (Peace, Truth, Order), Tautos Komitetas (National Committee), Naujoji Lietuvos Visuomenė (New Lithuanian Society), Lietuvių Žemė (Land of Lithuanians), and Už Didingą Lietuvą! (For a Great Lithuania!)—formed the backbone of the anti-state propaganda infrastructure. These groups systematically shared content from the same pool of authors, often as identical copies. One group, Taika, Tiesa, Tvarka, operated under the name Mindaugas Puidokas – Taikos koalicija – TTT (Peace Coalition) until the 2024 parliamentary elections.

The study also found that some groups originated from earlier anti-COVID-19 vaccine communities, Family March protest structures, or other activist networks, later repurposed for new political themes. The narratives ranged from anti-NATO and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric to antisemitic and anti-government messages.