Lithuania re-introduces conscription over perceived Russian threat

Lithuania's president Dalia Grybauskaitė announced on 24 February 2015 that the country planned to restart military conscription, which came to ended in 2008, to address growing concerns about Russian assertiveness in the Baltic region.

The Baltic states have been concerned that Russian annexation of Crimea and support for rebels in east Ukraine might be a foretaste of it reasserting itself in other former Soviet territories.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Putin is ‘real danger’ to Baltics, EU officials warn http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-is-real-danger-to-baltics-eu-officials-warn/

The Guardian, 24.02.15: Lithuania to reinstate compulsory military service amid Ukraine tensions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/24/lithuania-reinstate-compulsory-military-service

Euronews, 25.02.15: Lithuania to bring back military conscription to counter Russian threat http://www.euronews.com/2015/02/25/lithuania-to-bring-back-military-conscription-to-counter-russian-threat/

EUObserver, 25.02.15: Lithuania to re-introduce military conscription https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/127790

BBC News, 24.02.15: Lithuania to reintroduce conscription over security concerns http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31607930

The Moscow Times, 25.02.15: Lithuania to Restart Military Conscription Amid Russian Aggression Fears http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lithuania-to-restart-military-conscription-amid-russian-aggression-fears/516475.html

Deutsche Welle, 24.02.15: Eyeing Russia, Lithuania could reintroduce conscription http://dw.de/p/1Egbd

Sputnik International, 24.02.15: Back to Conscription? Lithuania Buffs Army as Paranoia Campaign Intensifies http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150224/1018696272.html

Lithuania: President of the Republic of Lithuania: Press Release, 24.02.15: The President’s statement after the State Defense Council meeting on the manning of the armed forces https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/the-presidents-statement-after-the-state-defense-council-meeting-on-the-manning-of-the-armed-forces/22202

BBC News, 06.03.15: Baltic states shiver as Russia flexes muscles http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31759558

Veidas, 07.03.15: Russia's neighbours need military service (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE159602-Russia-s-neighbours-need-military-service

Neatkarīgā, 12.03.15: Latvia also needs compulsory national service (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE159849-Latvia-also-needs-compulsory-national-service

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