There are no organised groups promoting the so-called Litvinism ideology, a radical branch of Belarusian nationalism, in Lithuania, according to the country’s intelligence.
Lithuanian politicians and public figures have been receiving emails with threats from allegedly Litvinist groups.
However, according to the State Security Department (VSD), there are no signs that the radical nationalist views, which include territorial revisionism, are widespread among Belarusians who have come to Lithuania since the 2020 repressions in the neighbouring country.
“The VSD monitors the processes in the new Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania in order to identify and prevent risks and threats to national security. According to the available data, there are no organised groups in Lithuania promoting the ideology of Litvinism which could pose a threat to the country’s independence, constitutional order, and territorial integrity,” the agency posted on its Facebook page.
Litvinism is a radical branch of Belarusian nationalism. It holds that modern-day Belarusians are the true heirs to the legacy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, making claims to part of the territory of present-day Lithuania – including the capital Vilnius – and other countries surrounding Belarus.
According to the VSD, there have been attempts on social networks to recruit Lithuanians to write Litvinist slogans in exchange for financial reward.
“According to the assessment of the VSD, such activities correspond to the features of psychological-information operations organised by states hostile to Lithuania, aimed at creating panic in the country’s society. Under the guise of Litvinism, the attempt is also made to discredit the Belarusian democratic opposition and to antagonise Lithuanian citizens with Belarusians living in the country,” the intelligence service said.
At the same time, a threat assessment report published by the intelligence services at the beginning of March claimed that Belarusian intelligence officers were trying to recruit Belarusians in Lithuania.
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