Lithuania domestic violence: calls for stricter laws after fatal incidents

Recent violent incidents in Lithuania, including a fatal stabbing in Avižienai and a suspected murder-suicide in Varėna, have prompted calls for stricter laws regarding domestic violence protection orders.

Data from the Lithuanian Police Department shows that 21,101 protection orders were issued in 2024, an increase from 18,697 in the previous year. Statistics indicate that 85% of those issuing orders are men, while 78% of those experiencing danger are women.

Rugilė Butkevičiūtė, head of the NGO 'Ribologija,' noted that while protection orders are useful preventative measures, the ability for a single individual to hold multiple orders suggests a lack of accountability and systemic behavior. She argued for a transition to pre-trial investigations and harsher penalties for repeat offenders, emphasizing that current consequences for violating orders are minimal. Butkevičiūtė also highlighted a critical need for increased focus on prevention and victim support rather than reacting only after fatalities occur.