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.

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.

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

.@edwardlucas I see you received hints for #London. We hope #freedomcheese soon b available in #Kaliningrad.

Linas Linkevicius

@LinkeviciusL

.@edwardlucas I see you received hints for #London. We hope #freedomcheese soon b available in #Kaliningrad.

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If you are not angry at milk, show some solidarity, join #freedomcheese action and buy #Lithuanian cheese. RT

Rolandas Kacinskas

@RKacinskas

If you are not angry at milk, show some solidarity, join #freedomcheese action and buy #Lithuanian cheese. RT

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

@edwardlucas Poland's MFA is in the process of procuring some Moldovan #freedombrandy :)

Radosᐪw Sikorski

@sikorskiradek

@edwardlucas Poland's MFA is in the process of procuring some Moldovan #freedombrandy :)

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

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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

LithuaniaEmbassyUK

@LTEMBASSYUK

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

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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Let's call it #3domcheese: shorter, more amusing hashtag than #freedomcheese and echoes Moldovan #3dombrandy & Georgian #3domwine

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

Let's call it #3domcheese: shorter, more amusing hashtag than #freedomcheese and echoes Moldovan #3dombrandy & Georgian #3domwine

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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a large packet of delicious Lithuanian #3domcheese has arrived at my house. Thanks @LTEMBASSYUK

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

a large packet of delicious Lithuanian #3domcheese has arrived at my house. Thanks @LTEMBASSYUK

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

Edward Lucas

@edwardlucas

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

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