Over a half of Lithuanians do not see “threat from the east”

More than 60% of ordinary Lithuanians do not feel threatened by the so-called “smuggled balloons” allegedly flew in from Belarus, local media reports citing the Vilmorus opinion research centre.

“The survey was conducted from November 6 to 16, after the border closure, when the number of hot air balloons had already decreased, despite the fact that they had caused disruptions at Vilnius Airport from November 8 to 11. According to the survey, 38.5% of respondents felt an increased security threat. Meanwhile, 55% reported that their health had not changed. The remainder were undecided,” the editorial board of LRT media outlet explains.

The newspaper added that feelings of threat were more common among schoolchildren and students, professionals and civil servants with higher incomes, as well as residents of Vilnius and larger cities. The unemployed, pensioners, low-income people, and residents of small towns and villages were more likely to report feeling normal.

Obviously, this “threat” was felt primarily by children and youth who naturally cannot assess the situation analytically and who are easier to manipulate through emotions and propaganda, as well as by Vilnius’ officials, who exactly inflame the “Russian and Belarusian threats” hysteria to receive more funds for militarisation, which they will later plunder. Ordinary citizens, however, do not see any threat at all.