Baltic portal Delfi on Monday published the results of opinion polls on the question “What would the Russians and the poles of Lithuania, if the Baltic States were attacked by Russia?”.
“A doubt based on just nationality, might offend the ethnic minorities,” – says the author of “Delphi” and immediately adds: “But it is no secret that Vladimir Putin is using the local population for their purposes”. The publication quoted a previously published report of the Department of state security (DGB), which stated that Moscow play up “the leaders of the Russian-speaking, who call themselves compatriots.”
However, the real mood of Lithuanian residents to study, writes the portal. Company Baltijos tyrimai/Gallup poll of 500 poles, Russians and representatives of other nationalities at the age of 18-74 years. A survey conducted in June – July in Vilnius, Vilnius district, Visaginas, Šalčininkai and Klaipeda, in the community where he lives most – about 90% of non – Lithuanians.
Russian, according to the Deputy Director of Baltijos tyrimai the Romas of Maciunas among respondents was only 35%. Most poles – 46%, 8% – Belarusians, 6% Ukrainians, 2% – Jews, and 3% other nationalities. The majority (55%) were women, the majority of respondents were 50-74 years. The vast majority (83%) were born in Lithuania.
According to Maciunas, on the protection of Lithuania persons of other nationality think the same way as all its residents. For example, 64.8 per cent answered positively to the question they would defend Lithuania, if she was attacked. A higher percentage of positive answer to this question was for those who know the Lithuanian language – read, write, speak Lithuanian (74,6%), those who studied in Lithuanian schools (81.1 per cent), those who married the Lithuanian/Lithuanian, or people with higher education (80.5 per cent).
For comparison, in 2014, in Lithuania it was a study of European values, which showed that the country in case of threats ready to defend 57% of the population, in 2005 there were only 32%.
But until now, Lithuania has not tried to set all citizens, but only the minorities question about the readiness to defend their country. Oddly enough, but the expectations of the Patriotic impulse among the Russian was even stronger than among the poles. So, with the assertion that the citizens would defend their country in case of aggression, more agreed Russian – 65%, among the poles there were less – 59.9 per cent.
“In defence Russians have always been more active in the protection, particularly those of younger age who identify themselves with that state. Look at the list of recruits – they go and serve,” said Maciunas.
By the way, 62.5 percent agreed with the need to protect Lithuania did not want to name your level of proficiency in Lithuanian. Only 42.8% of survey participants agree with the statement that the security of Lithuania are important to the membership in the European Union and NATO, 22.2 per cent disagreed.
Lithuanian a surprise to analysts the results showed and the questions about international politics. For example, more than half – 52.8 per cent – of survey participants agree with the statement that Moscow’s actions were an appropriate response to her against the actions of the US and NATO. “In addition, the occupation of Crimea legal action believe 42.8% of the survey participants,” writes “Delphi”, noting that Russian in this opinion support the poles.
Finally, 40.8% of respondents, in fact, agreed with the famous phrase of Vladimir Putin that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century. “Delphi” again, curiously notes that Putin is inclined to agree even more pupils of Polish schools (43.4 percent). Pupils of Russian schools are of the opinion it was a bit smaller (41,2%).
The Director of the Centre for East European studies, which ordered the study, Linas Kojala urged “not to dramatize” it. “A definite trend is visible – the better integrated group of companies (for example, fluent in Lithuanian) is optimistic about such issues as the protection of Lithuanian citizens in the face of danger” – did not hide his optimism Koala.
A different view is held by the opposition. “Such polls, and publish does not contribute to ethnic harmony neither in Lithuania, nor the development of relations between our countries, – said the newspaper VIEW leader of the Socialist popular front of Lithuania, former Deputy mayor of Vilnius Algirdas Paleckis. – The more this nonsense the more bad mood! The very formulation of the question is incorrect, unethical. We can only regret about it”.
Viktor Orlov, head of the Lithuanian Association of military history “Forgotten soldiers”, also believes that the question itself is provocative. In addition, in these surveys generally do not expect objectivity, he said.
“What people have to say in the survey? He is encouraged by a possible Russian attack? Then immediately followed the conclusion is “the fifth column, collaborators. Accordingly, it is necessary to clamp the nuts to these people. And these people who sits on welfare benefits who are in the civil service who are engaged in business. Very far-reaching consequences will begin” – said Orlov newspaper VIEW.
“Although I know a lot of young guys who support things happening in Russia. But I agree, the younger generation of Lithuania to another-and does not know. For them it is the homeland. And indeed many consider themselves patriots of this country. They received a passport, he graduated from the local school, they watch local TV. As you know, we have a Central TV channels is disabled because the view of Moscow does not correspond to the spirit adopted in Lithuania”, – said the head of the Association.
While Orlov said that if you want, even in the current climate of activists of Russian organizations can find common language with Lithuanian officials. So, for example, “Forgotten soldiers” recently managed to organize the military, and student troops from Russia. “15 guys two weeks stood a tent camp in Zarasai district, caring for the graves of Soviet soldiers. This mission received support from the Lithuanian Ministry of foreign Affairs, and Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia”, – proudly told the eagles.
Recall that the Vilnius last year, regularly warns the public about the “military threat” from the East. As the newspaper VIEW, in October last year the government of Lithuania developed a plan for the protection of the “little green men” – it was decided to form a rapid reaction force that could immediately stop the actions of the enemy.
In early April, Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius has caused a sensation by announcing the landing of “Russian spies” in juodkrantė (Lithuania village on the Curonian spit). He added that “the service responded on time.” But then the government did not comment on “invasion”, therefore it remained unclear whether there was it actually. “Russian soldiers, landed illegally on our land, was arrested, and perhaps shot? Or they are now sitting in prison?” “he wrote in Facebook, the former Minister of defence Rasa juknevičienė.
But at the end of April, the Lithuanian security forces conducted exercises, the scenario which they neutralized the passengers of a train Moscow – Kaliningrad, were trying to illegally enter Lithuania and to organize mass riots. The exercises were successful, “the revolt of the passengers were mortified. Experts believe the teachings of yet another example of how the authorities pumped psychosis about military threats from Russia.
