Visuomenės saugumas ir viešoji tvarka / Public security of public order 2026, vol. 38, no. 1

This study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and foreign language learning outcomes among first-year students from Vilnius University Business School (VU BS) and Mykolas Romeris University (MRU). A total of 205 students with B2 English proficiency participated: 137 VU BS students (business/academic English) and 68 MRU students (criminal justice/language). Using a structured questionnaire with five Likert-scale items, the study assessed multiple EI dimensions, including emotional recognition and management, collaboration, stress management, and intercultural communication, alongside measures of language learning performance. Results indicate significant differences between the two student groups: VU BS students excel in social-emotional and intercultural EI dimensions, enhancing their capacity for negotiation, networking, and international communication, whereas MRU students demonstrate stronger self-control, emotional regulation, and conflict-resolution abilities, which are critical for law enforcement, security, and sustainable public safety practices. Statistical analysis confirmed moderate effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.3–0.5) for key EI differences. The study further emphasizes that integrating EI development into foreign language education through interactive, experiential, and gamified approaches can simultaneously enhance academic performance, professional readiness, and intercultural competence. These findings underscore the strategic value of embedding EI-focused training in higher education curricula, providing evidence-based guidance for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers to foster graduates who are both academically proficient and emotionally adept, capable of contributing effectively to diverse professional and societal contexts.

The right to compensation for damage is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and further regulated by the Civil Code. Where a person dies as a result of unlawful conduct, compensation may be awarded for both pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage. Although Lithuanian law establishes general criteria for assessing non-pecuniary damage, it neither defines the relative importance of these criteria nor sets minimum or maximum compensation amounts. As a result, the assessment of non-pecuniary damage largely depends on judicial discretion and the development of case law. Due to its intangible nature, determining appropriate compensation remains one of the most complex issues in cases involving the death of a person. This article examines the legal framework governing compensation for damage resulting from the death of a person and analyses Lithuanian judicial practice between 1 January 2020 and 1 September 2025. The study is based on an analysis of 101 court cases and 102 individual claims. The latter number reflects situations in which several claimants sought compensation within the same proceedings. To evaluate the individual relationship between each claimant and the deceased, every claimant was examined separately. Particular attention is paid to the criteria applied by courts when assessing non-pecuniary damage, including the relationship between the claimant and the deceased, the defendant’s financial situation, and the circumstances surrounding the death. The findings identify the main trends in Lithuanian judicial practice and the factors influencing the determination of compensation in cases involving the death of a person. They also identify the compensation amounts most commonly awarded by courts and the factors that most significantly influence judicial decision-making in such cases.

Professional (occupational) victimisation in policing—manifesting as external aggression from the public, internal harassment and bullying, and organisational/systemic forms of secondary victimisation—poses significant risks to officers’ well-being, perceived safety and organisational performance. Lithuania has developed a multi-layered prevention and support architecture that combines labour-law prohibitions of violence and harassment, occupational safety and health (OSH) duties to manage psychosocial risks, organisational procedures for reporting and case-handling, and statutory provisions for psychological, medical and rehabilitation support. However, empirical evidence remains limited regarding how police officers assess the practical effectiveness of these formally established measures and how often they are used. The purpose of this study is to evaluate police officers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of prevention and support measures aimed at addressing professional victimisation and to examine patterns of reporting, utilisation and perceived usefulness of available support. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was applied using an anonymous online survey of Lithuanian police officers (n = 137). Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U) to compare evaluations of effectiveness between officers with and without victimisation experience, supplemented by qualitative content analysis of an open-ended question on additional prevention measures (n = 40). The findings indicate that professional victimisation is salient in officers’ occupational environment through both direct and indirect exposure, while victimisation experience is not significantly associated with key socio-demographic or occupational characteristics. Officers’ evaluations of formally established measures were moderate overall: none achieved high perceived effectiveness, and ratings did not differ significantly between those who had and had not experienced victimisation, suggesting a shared system-level assessment. Psychological support was evaluated most positively, whereas trust- and confidentiality-dependent mechanisms (e.g., confidential reporting pathways, peer/internal support arrangements and rehabilitation-related measures) received lower evaluations. Practice-related indicators revealed substantial underreporting and limited utilisation of support measures among victimised officers, and the perceived usefulness of received support was frequently difficult to assess. Qualitative proposals emphasised strengthening accountability for external aggression, ensuring genuinely anonymous internal reporting, reinforcing leadership accountability and organisational climate, and expanding continuous training. Overall, the results suggest that the principal challenge concerns the credibility, accessibility and consistent implementation of prevention and support mechanisms rather than their formal existence.

As the world enters a fifth year of Russia’s murderous war in Ukraine, which, according to the aggressor, was supposed to be a “3 day long special military operation”, the Kremlin’s tireless propaganda machine is flooding the information space with various false narratives in hopes of reducing the help of Ukraine’s allies, discrediting its fight for survival and disseminating uncertainty in Western societies. While the conventional warfare is taking place on the lands, seas and skies of Ukraine, Russia’s information warfare front is much farther reaching. The warmongering state dedicates tremendous amounts of money to disinformation campaigns targeted towards the democratic countries, because it is the only battleground in which Russia might be able to overpower the West. Since the very first days of restoration of its independence, Lithuania has been on the receiving end of such campaigns, even more so, regarding the fact that it managed to achieve membership in the European Union and NATO. Kremlin’s propaganda is particularly concentrated on the neighbouring democratic states that share and nurture Western values. Considering that any war, conventional or information, cannot be won by only defensive action, this article’s purpose is to uncover, what legal means does Lithuania possess in order to counter Russia’s propagandistic activities, are the legal measures sufficient and most importantly – what new legal instruments have been implemented during the recent years that are empowering Lithuania not only to counter Kremlin’s lies, but to fight back? Methodologically, the research involves a legal analysis of existing laws and legal norms of Lithuania, dedicated to fighting propaganda and ensuring legal liability for it, as well as proposals for the amendments of legal acts, put forward by lawmakers at the Parliament of Lithuania. Findings indicate inaction in providing new and innovative legal means of combating propaganda by the legislators. To conclude, the article highlights the few noteworthy examples of proposals, put forward by legislators in the field of information warfare against Russia and emphasizes the fact that more progressive, proactive, and original legal initiatives are necessary.

This article analyzes the manifestation of leadership in social organizations, conceptualizing it as a transformative force that shapes organizational culture within the framework of sustainable security. In contemporary social organizations operating under conditions of constant uncertainty and social challenges, leadership takes on strategic significance—it becomes not only a mechanism for coordinating activities but also a value-based orientation uniting the community toward a common goal and the long-term development of the organization. The objective is to reveal the role of leadership in social organizations in order to create a sustainable, safe, and socially responsible organizational culture that enhances employee engagement and well- being, and to identify effective leadership practices in the context of human resource management. The theoretical research method is a systematic analysis of the scientific literature, encompassing the latest scholarly sources on the topic of leadership in social organizations. A targeted selection and critical analysis of the literature allowed for the conceptual substantiation of the statements and conclusions formulated in the article without relying on the collection of empirical data. The results of the analysis show that, in the context of social organizations, leadership is not equated with hierarchical management or administrative control. It is understood as a sustainable practice based on values, trust, and a moral stance, oriented toward the creation of long-term value. It is emphasized that emotional intelligence, the creation of psychological safety, employee empowerment, and the application of “slow” leadership principles create conditions for the formation of a resilient organizational culture, reduce the risk of professional burnout, and strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability.

This article examines differences in workplace mobbing across genders and employment sectors, based on quantitative data from 387 Lithuanian employees. The study aims to identify how the prevalence, intensity and consequences of mobbing differ between men and women, as well as between the public and private sectors. Data were collected via an anonymous online survey, statistical analyses included χ² tests, Mann–Whitney U tests and Spearman’s correlation. The results indicate that men reported experiencing mobbing significantly more often and rated its intensity higher, whereas women were more likely to experience horizontal, socially mediated forms of mobbing. Employees in the public sector experienced mobbing significantly more frequently than those in the private sector and the negative outcomes - such as decreased motivation, reduced work performance, career setbacks and distrust in the organization - were particularly pronounced in the public sector. These findings confirm that mobbing is a structurally conditioned phenomenon linked to hierarchy, proceduralism, power relations, organizational culture, suggesting that prevention should focus on institutional rather than individual interventions.

This article analyzes the system for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Lithuania, with a particular focus on its practical implementation following the 2024 reform. The aim of the article is to examine the system for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Lithuania, with a primary focus on disputes regarding decisions made by the Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the pre-trial dispute resolution procedure and the appropriateness of the dispute resolution mechanisms in use. The scope of the study includes an analysis of legal regulation, institutional changes, and administrative practice. The research questions focus on how the 2024 disability reform changed the dispute resolution model and to what extent the new mechanism ensures a more effective opportunity for legal redress through administrative procedures. The study employs comparative, systematic, analytical-critical, and statistical analysis methods. To analyze legal and administrative practice, case study and generalization methods are utilized. The empirical section is based on data from the activities of the Lithuanian Administrative Disputes Commission for 2024–2025. The results show that the 2024 reform fundamentally restructured the system by establishing a model for assessing participation levels and a mandatory pre-trial review procedure. Although this improved the organization of the system and increased its formal accessibility, certain problems persist in practice. Some complaints are not examined on their merits due to non-compliance with procedural requirements, and the review of decisions is often limited to a formal assessment. There also remains a reliance on medical and social expert opinions. Thus, while the reform has strengthened the legal framework, its effectiveness depends on practical implementation.