Lithuania: Organized crime; reports of an organization called Liutai (Lion); state protection

Reports on the current situation of organized crime in Lithuania are scarce among the sources consulted. The Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs recently reported to the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that it considers transnational organized crime to be among its current challenges (Lithuania 6 Dec. 2002). Dr. Paddy Rawlinson of the Centre for Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Wales characterized organized crime in Lithuania as "regional" and dominated by ethnic Lithuanians, and he noted that Kaunas was "known as the cradle of Lithuanian organised crime" (ESRC 2001, 17). In addition, Rawlinson observed that criminal groups were involved in trading illegal arms, trafficking humans and smuggling western goods (ibid., 17-18). He also cited one group called Zemaitukai who dominated Panevezys and were renowned as extortionists (ibid., 18).

The Research Directorate was unable able to find mention of a Lithuanian organized crime group called Liutai (Lion) among the sources consulted.

According to Article 227 of the Lithuanian Criminal Code, the "Law on the Prevention of Organised Crime," an organized crime group is defined as an enterprise consisting of three or more persons who have agreed to pursue serious criminal activity (COE 20 Dec. 2000). Under the auspices of the prosecutor general's office, the Department of Organized Crime and Corruption is legislated to fight organized crime and is represented regionally with offices in the county prosecutor's offices in Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevezys, Klaipeda and Siauliai (ibid. 8 Mar. 2002, 14). Among other tasks, the department is empowered to initiate and prosecute organized crime-related cases and to supervise the interrogations and investigations undertaken by police (ibid.).

In addition to these investigative services, Lithuania has institutionalised witness and victims' protection services (ibid., 10) under the supervision of the Criminal Police and Public Police Bureaus (EU 9 Oct. 2000, 115) The witness protection law was legislated in 1993 (IOM 2001b, 4), and since 2000 the Baltic states have instituted a "common space" for witness and victim protection (Estonian Radio 17 Mar. 2000). In the "Agreement on Cooperation in the Protection of Witnesses and Victims," Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania agreed to allow individuals to be temporarily or permanently moved between their countries in an effort to ensure their safety (IOM 2001a, 85-86). However, according to two Lithuanian observers, by 2001 only limited resources had been made available for witness and victim protection (IOM 2001a, 85; ibid. 2001b, 11).

In the context of human trafficking, the IOM report also mentions the following non-governmental organizations as being involved in victim's support: Auka (Victim), Vilties Zingznis (Step of Hope), Paguoda (Consolation) and Bukiime Kartu (Let's Be Together) (ibid., 10).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Council of Europe (COE). 8 March 2002. Group of States Against Corruption. First Evaluation Round: Evaluation Report on Lithuania. (Greco Eval I Rep [2002] 1E Final). [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

_____. 20 December 2000. Country Report - Lithuania. (Octopus [2000] 46 Final) [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

This report was one of a number published under the auspices of the "Octopus II Programme," the second "Joint Programme between the European Commission and the Council of Europe on the Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime in States in Transition" (COE 20 Dec. 2000).

Economic and Social Research Council (ESCR). 2001. Paddy Rawlinson. "Russian Organised Crime and the Baltic States: Assessing the Threat." ESRC "One Europe or Several?" Programme Working Paper 38/01. [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

Estonian Radio [Tallinn, in Estonian]. 17 March 2000. "Baltic Countries Sign Agreement on Protection of Witnesses of Crime." (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 21 Mar. 2000/NEXIS)

European Union. 9 October 2002. 2002 Regular Report on Lithuania's Progress Towards Accession. (SEC [2002] 1406) [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

International Organization for Migration (IOM) [Helsinki]. 2001a. Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic Countries. Heli Askola. "Trafficking in Women in the Baltic Stats: Legal Aspects." In Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Baltic States: Social and Legal Aspects. [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

_____. 2001b. Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic Countries. Audrone Perkauskiene. "Annex IV: Trafficking in Women: Lithuania." In Trafficking in Women in the Baltic States: Legal Aspects. IOM-Helsinki Report No. 47/01. [Accessed 13 Feb. 2003]

Lithuania. 6 December 2002. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Statement by H.E. Mr. Antanas Valionis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Delivered at the OSCE 10th Ministerial Council Meeting." [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including:

Baltic Assembly

Centre for Crime Prevention in Lithuania

European Union, 2002 Regular Report

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Lithuania. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lithuania. Ministry of Justice, International Crime Victim Survey in Vilnius (Lithuania) 2000

Lithuania. Special Investigation Service of Lithuania

MINELRES

Non-Governmental Organization Information and Support Centre

United Nations, Crime and Justice Information Network

United Nations in Lithuania

United Nations. Office on Drugs and Crime