Crimes against humanity and war crimes: statistical data on investigations related to persons of Jewish nationality
02-09-2008

Since the restoration of statehood of the Republic of Lithuania (3 March 1990) 225 pre-trial investigations in respect of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Nazi and Soviet occupations have been initiated by the Prosecutor General’s Office and territorial Prosecutor’s Offices. 4 of these investigations were initiated regarding the crimes against the civil residents of an occupied state allegedly committed by the Soviet partisan squads during the World War II in the territory of Lithuania.

On the basis of data of the first half of the year 2008, 22 pre-trial investigations in respect of massacre of Jewish people (genocide) during the WWII are being conducted in the Special Investigation Division of Prosecutor General’s Office, territorial prosecutor’s offices and pre-trial investigation institutions in 2008. During the period from 1990 to 2008 there were 17 prosecutor’s procedural decisions made on terminating pre-trial investigation on the grounds specified in the Code of Criminal Procedure (e.g. death of a suspect, no composition of a crime established etc.) in the pre-trial investigations concerning massive annihilation of Jewish people (genocide) during the WWII. Furthermore, presently 3 pre-trial investigations in which three persons of Jewish nationality are suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes are being conducted. During the period from 1990 to 2008, 3 criminal cases in which three persons were charged with massacre of Jewish people (genocide) were handed over to Vilnius Regional Court.

In general, during the period from 1990 to 2008, Lithuanian courts examined 18 criminal cases related with 27 persons namely,
8 persons were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment (one of them was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment);

1 person was found guilty and sentenced to restriction of liberty;

4 persons were acquitted due to lack of proof;

5 persons died prior to the completion of case examination in the court;

After having stated the fact of participation in the commission of crimes and terminated criminal cases due to the mental and physical health status, application of coercive medical measures was imposed on 5 persons. 

In the investigation into massacre of civilians of Kaniūkai village 9 persons in total were interviewed. 5 of them were acknowledged as victims, and the rest 4 – as witnesses. It was planned to present suspicions to one person of Lithuanian nationality of the 4 interviewed witnesses; however, the person in question passed away. Fates of other members of the Soviet partisan squad who participated in the massacre were not established.

Meanwhile, in the investigation concerning the alleged crimes of the Soviet partisan squad “Vilnius” (murder of persons protected by international law and prohibited behaviour with them) over 100 persons of different nationalities were interviewed as witnesses. No suspicions have been presented yet, and Israel informed that no suspicions shall be made towards Y. Arad. Considering the amendments made to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Y. Arad could be considered as a special witness who could provide information significant for investigation.

 

---

 

Public Relations Division

Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania

Ph. 370 266 2366, 370 6 87 47705

 

 Version in Russian