yes and no.
yes: lithuanian is a difficult language: it depends on the aspects, but some do indeed pose a problem for me. i would say that there is still not enough didactic reflection regarding lithuanian as a foreign language to "make the pill easier to swallow."
no: it is a very different language from russian, and i differentiate the two languages better every day. however, there are similarities in the way sentences are organized, for example, in relation to time. the grammar of both languages does indeed present similarities.
porque eres quien eres
if you want to achieve a somewhat higher proficiency in english, it's really not easy.
to let them know the truth
the diversity within this language, the different dialects and sociolects, does not allow for much generalization. people around the world use arabic in many different ways. one could rather draw distinctions based on the different areas where it is used. for example, it clearly shows the differences in language use in places when one compares arabic in north africa and the middle east.
it is a hard language, and french is worse, i think: if you learn lithuanian, it is quite easy because there are no exceptions in the rules!
how should stereotypes be justified?
even if it bears similarities to russian, it is still very different with its own character, and even though it is true that some words can sound quite harsh to a western ear, others are very pleasant-sounding, and bulgarian has a significant poetic dimension.
i have met native and non-native french speakers, and i haven't witnessed (yet) any of the stereotypes mentioned. maybe foreigners learning the language seem to be more arrogant about it than the french themselves. i'm defending the french and still trying to prove the stereotypes wrong. at least, as long as i believe i am right about this. :)
because it really sounds very suitable to sing.
the sound of pronunciation is strange, unique, but much better than frogs.
because it's not true
declensions (nominative, accusative, genitive) allow the speaker to explain things with fewer words than with a latin system, for example.
it means that it's not at all a "non-elaborate" language.