Meet #FreedomCheese, Courtesy Of Lithuania

Lithuania's foreign minister coined the hashtag in response to a Russian ban on dairy products widely seen as politically motivated.

by Max Seddon

BuzzFeed News World Correspondent

Posted on October 14, 2013, 8:27 pm

Russia has a history of banning food products from countries with which it is sparring politically. It has, in the past, banned wine from Georgia, chocolate from Ukraine and, in 2010, chicken thighs from the U.S.

Now it is Lithuania's turn. Last week, Russia banned imports of Lithuanian dairy products after Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia's health watchdog, said his agency found high traces of yeast, fungus, and bacteria from intestinal tracts in them. Many pointed to the fact that next month, Lithuania will host a summit at which three ex-Soviet states are expected to sign association agreements with the European Union, moving them further outside Moscow's orbit. Lithuania's prime minister told the AP that Russia was attempting to punish it for taking part in the talks. Earlier this month, Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said the country could block Russian access to Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave separated from the mainland by the three Baltic countries.

Meet #freedomcheese, Lithuania's answer to Moscow's dairy ban.

Linas Linkevicius
@LinkeviciusL
.@edwardlucas I see you received hints for #London. We hope #freedomcheese soon b available in #Kaliningrad.
/ Via

Rolandas Kacinskas
@RKacinskas
If you are not angry at milk, show some solidarity, join #freedomcheese action and buy #Lithuanian cheese. RT
/ Via

Radosáªw Sikorski
@sikorskiradek
@edwardlucas Poland's MFA is in the process of procuring some Moldovan #freedombrandy :)
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
show solidarity- Buy Lithuanian cheese & foil Russian trade war. Embassies-publish lists of outlets, host cheesefests http://t.co/gpLbDqYUGv
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Here Americans can buy (Rus-labelled) Lithuanian #freedombutter and foil Putin's trade war. Buy some now http://t.co/jc9mZMfmv3
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Just phoned Lithuanian embassy in London in search of #freedomcheese. No answer, answerphone not working. Grrr @LinkeviciusL
/ Via

LithuaniaEmbassyUK
@LTEMBASSYUK
@edwardlucas @LinkeviciusL Edward, the Embassy will make you a home delivery of #freedomcheese .Enjoy!
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Sadly Lithuanian #freedomcheese is not yet available in Tesco. Pls @LTEMBASSYUK link to stockists on your website! http://t.co/DZARDgNXdU
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Latest on #freedomcheese - buy it here http://t.co/LOGy2PnDPH and http://t.co/vx8DNkTEAZ. Thanks @LTEMBASSYUK for info
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Let's call it #3domcheese: shorter, more amusing hashtag than #freedomcheese and echoes Moldovan #3dombrandy & Georgian #3domwine
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
Five places in Germany where you can annoy Putin, defend freedom & democracy, and buy Lithuanian #3domcheese http://t.co/Xjl8i2o5YB
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
a large packet of delicious Lithuanian #3domcheese has arrived at my house. Thanks @LTEMBASSYUK
/ Via

Edward Lucas
@edwardlucas
OK! UK tweeps can buy Lithuanian cheese online here. Send sales soaring & ruin Putin's day. http://t.co/NG246gGlen
/ Via

Max Seddon
BuzzFeed News World Correspondent
Max Seddon is a correspondent for BuzzFeed World based in Berlin. He has reported from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and across the ex-Soviet Union and Europe. His secure PGP fingerprint is 6642 80FB 4059 E3F7 BEBE 94A5 242A E424 92E0 7B71
Contact Max Seddon at max.seddon@buzzfeed.com.
Got a confidential tip? 👉 Submit it here

Meet #FreedomCheese, Courtesy Of Lithuania

Linkevicius coined the term in response to a tweet by Edward Lucas, international editor at The Economist.

Poland's foreign minister tweeted in support of brandy from Moldova, whose exports also came under Russian pressure when it gravitated towards the EU.

Lucas, a longtime Baltic booster and fervent Kremlin opponent, was really into the idea of #freedomcheese.

Meet #FreedomCheese, Courtesy Of Lithuania

Linkevicius coined the term in response to a tweet by Edward Lucas, international editor at The Economist.

Poland's foreign minister tweeted in support of brandy from Moldova, whose exports also came under Russian pressure when it gravitated towards the EU.

Lucas, a longtime Baltic booster and fervent Kremlin opponent, was really into the idea of #freedomcheese.

incoming