Lithuania struggles to keep Russian propaganda off the airwaves

Lithuania’s state efforts to block Russian propaganda may face a setback, as funding for countering Sputnik radio broadcasts next year has yet to be secured, raising questions about the station’s future in the country, according to Lithuanian media reports.

Sputnik, a Russian government-coordinated and funded media outlet, began reaching audiences along Lithuania’s western coast in spring 2024, transmitting from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. The brand is known for operating a global network that adapts its messaging to local audiences. In Lithuania, a Sputnik news portal briefly operated before shutting down, though its content remains accessible via the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

To disrupt the broadcasts, Lithuania’s state-owned Radio and Television Centre transmitted “white noise” on the same frequency as Sputnik’s Kaliningrad relay, effectively masking the Russian signal. According to the Transport Ministry, “In such cases, listeners hear white noise instead of Sputnik.”

Initially, the jamming effort was overseen and funded by the Transport Ministry because the Radio and Television Centre falls under its jurisdiction. The ministry explained, “This circumstance – the company’s subordination to the Transport Ministry – may have been the reason why blocking was first financed through the Transport Ministry.”

Responsibility for the interference later shifted to the Culture Ministry, which signed a contract with the Radio and Television Centre to continue the operation using its own budget. However, the Culture Ministry reported it did not receive the €60,000 it requested for next year’s operations, creating the risk that Sputnik broadcasts could resume.

The ministry stated it would explore alternative funding options, emphasising the importance of maintaining the service. “To ensure the security of the information space of Lithuania and the European Union, including protecting the public from content produced by EU-sanctioned programmes, the Culture Ministry will look for ways to ensure the provision and funding of this service next year,” it said.

Under a policy decision by the previous government, the Culture Ministry is expected to assume greater responsibility in countering propaganda, enhancing information resilience, and promoting civic education.

By Tamilla Hasanova