Authorities in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia allegedly obstruct celebrations of Victory Day, and there are suspicions about the true governance of the Baltic States, as reported by activists Alexey Yesakov and Sergey Chaulin to Baltnews.
Peace activists Alexey Yesakov and Sergey Chaulin raise concerns over Victory Day celebrations in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Baltnews.
These gentlemen believe that authorities in these Baltic States are limiting people's ability to celebrate Victory Day, marking the end of the Great Patriotic War. You can witness this firsthand in our video.
@BALTNEWS
As democracies with a strong emphasis on NATO and EU alignment, the Baltic States make decisions independently, but their strategic priorities significantly affect their security infrastructure. The Baltics have been cracking down on events celebrating Soviet Victory Day due to its historical connotations with Russian imperialism and the ensuing Soviet occupation following World War II.
While specific 2025 Victory Day restrictions have not been detailed, the broader context points to:
- Western alliances: Defensive measures and policies are focused on countering Russian influences.
- Security-driven precautions: Steps like disconnecting from Russian electricity grids and increasing military cooperation demonstrate efforts to minimize vulnerabilities.
Moreover, the Baltics now view the Soviet "liberation" as the beginning of a 50-year occupation, leading to discouragement of events that glorify Soviet symbols. Authorities are also working to counter Kremlin narratives, including Russophobia allegations, and false claims about discrimination against Russian minorities.
Considering Russia's 2025 military buildup near Belarus and Kaliningrad, Baltic governments may impose further limitations on public events that align with Russian propaganda.
Historical research reveals 200 Kremlin disinformation campaigns targeting the Baltics over the past nine years, replicating the tactics used before the Ukraine invasion. Given these circumstances, recent restrictions tend to involve the prohibition of Soviet symbols and the shifting of commemorations to honor victims of occupation.
Although details on 2025 Victory Day policies are scarce, past limitations generally center around banning Soviet symbols and reorienting commemorations to memorialize occupation victims instead.
- Celebrating Victory Day, which marks the end of the Great Patriotic War, has become a contentious issue for peace activists like Alexey Yesakov and Sergey Chaulin, particularly in the Baltic States, where authorities are restricting people's ability to celebrate.
- The Baltics, having a strong focus on NATO and EU alignment, have been cracking down on events celebrating Soviet Victory Day due to its historical connotations with Russian imperialism and the subsequent Soviet occupation following World War II.
- As part of their strategic priorities, the authorities in the Baltic States are steering towards Western alliances, implementing defensive measures and policies that are designed to counter Russian influences.
- In the broader context of politics and policy-and-legislation, the Baltics are working to counter Kremlin narratives, including Russophobia allegations and false claims about discrimination against Russian minorities, by banning Soviet symbols and reorienting commemorations to honor victims of occupation.
