"Moscow is stationing 'thousands of troops, including mechanized and naval infantry brigades, military aircraft, modern long-range air defense units and hundreds of armored vehicles in the territory.'"

Kaliningrad.

Victory Day

Former Soviet republics reject symbols that celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Victory Day.

ADDED: Enjoy some humor.

"If I wanted, in two days I could have Russian troops not only in Kiev, but also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucharest[.]"

Said Putin.

"Sanctions invite Putin agression."

Says Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaitė.

"[W]e are closest neighbors, so we know our neighbor very well."

It's election day in Lithuania.

Did you notice?

"Grybauskaite can afford sticking with a small campaign with hardly any posters or TV ads. As the current president, she has the stage whenever she wants. Critics used to accuse her of not mingling with the population enough. So, in the past year, she spent more time with everyday people. During the traditional Uzgavenes carnival in February, she toured the sausage and pancakes booths and posed with dressed-up partiers and teenagers."

More photos here.

"Latvia Casts Wary Eye on Russia"

"A chief concern of the government—which is facing parliamentary elections in October—is the rise of what some officials call 'provocateurs,' people in the country believed to be spreading antigovernment sentiment on behalf of the Kremlin."

(See also here.)

Maneuvers

"Russian army holds exercises on Polish and Lithuanian borders."

Follow events in Kiev ...

… here.

"Femen activists show up at Vilnius Summit."

A member of the "scandalous organisation" popped out of a "car with 'Ukraine to EU' written on her bare chest. The police knew about the possible action and, therefore, was ready to react."

Lithuanian-language story and more (some probably NSFW) photos here.

Politician asserts it's impolite to gloat.

Lithuanian Member of Parliament "angry over Lithuania's 'incapacity to stop teasing' Russia about" the country's independence movement.

#FreedomCheese

A response to Russia's ban on the importation of Lithuanian dairy products.

Dairy State

Russia stops importation of Lithuanian dairy products.

During the first Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940, the USSR started exporting most of Lithuania's dairy products to Russia. The Soviet Union sent grocery trucks—marked "Food for a Starving Lithuania" and hauling only watermelons—as an exchange for the dairy products.

Bad Form

A pyramid in front of Lithuania's parliament ("Siemas") building celebrates Lithuania's presidency of the EU Council. The pyramid, however, superimposes the borders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania over a contemporary map of Europe.

Today is big day in Lithuania.

It's July 1, and today Lithuania assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The country will hold that position for the next six months.

(By the way: the Lithuanian word for July, "Liepos," means "linden tree.")

Judo Lady?

"Get ready to hear more about the Judo-loving president of Lithuania dubbed the 'Iron Lady' for her harsh austerity measures used to yank the Baltic state out of economic disaster without any outside help."

"Hooliganism" Camp

Reports suggest "Russian oppositions received training in so-called ‘orange revolution’ tactics at a special camp in Lithuania."

And:

The newspaper found one participant who, on condition of anonymity, said the studies were a part of a larger cooperation program launched by the European Union for the Russian opposition.

Two subjects I never thought would appear together in a news story.

Lithuania and piracy.

Attention Toronto Readers

(I know there are at least four of you.)

The Lithuanian film, Fireheart: The Legend of Tadas Blinda opens in Toronto on Friday, November 23, 2012, as part of the European Union Filmfest.

"Braveheart," move over.

"Tadas Blinda" also was a television series that ran in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. The show highlighted the struggle of the peasants against the aristocracy. You can get a taste of it—you don’t need to understand Lithuanian to digest its flavor—here:

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for forwarding the information about the movie to us.

Mon Dieu!

The EU contemplates banning the ingredients of Amber Reunion's favorite scent, Chanel No. 5.

Pee-EU.

Election "Irregularities"

In Lithuania. Chicago Tribune reports:

President Dalia Grybauskaite, a former EU budget commissioner who is popular with the electorate, refused to accept the Labor Party, which faces allegations of buying votes during the two rounds of balloting.

"A party which is suspected of gross violations in the election, which is suspected of false accounting and non-transparent activities cannot participate in the government's formation," Grybauskaite told a news conference.