Soviet criminal law in Lithuania: the introduction of Soviet criminal laws

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the circumstances surrounding the introduction of Soviet criminal law in Lithuania, which together illustrates similar processes that took place in other Eastern European countries occupied by, or directly influenced by, the Soviet Union by the changing of the structure of their states. The authors of the paper focuses on two main themes (issues): the genesis of Soviet criminal law, the background to its adoption in Lithuania and its general features; and an overall review and assessment of the different types of crime. Analysis of these issues concludes that despite continuous attempts to reform Soviet criminal law, its content did not meet the criteria of the rule of law, and this became one of the fundamental differences between the provisions of criminal law in Western democracies.