Sexual Abuse of Women in Soviet-Occupied Lithuania: Legal and Political Dimensions of Rape

Abstract

This chapter explores the sexual violence faced by women during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania (1940–1941, 1944–1990), focusing on its legal and political dimensions. Wartime and occupation periods often highlight the interplay of violence and power, and this study examines how rape was treated within the Soviet legal framework and influenced by the Communist political agenda. The analysis draws on secondary sources, including scholarly works, and primary archival materials such as legal acts, official reports, criminal cases and secret records from Lithuanian archives. The research reveals that the crime of rape held a unique legal status during the Soviet era, often shaped by shifting political priorities. Criminal cases from the Stalinist period, derived from the records of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic’s Supreme Court, highlight challenges in credibility due to the extensive use of coercive interrogation methods by Soviet authorities like the Cheka and the MVD. These cases reflect a broader context of systemic suppression and control, where legal proceedings were frequently intertwined with political objectives. The chapter underscores the importance of understanding sexual violence not only as a social or legal issue but as a tool of political manipulation during the Soviet occupation, shedding light on the broader dynamics of power and oppression in occupied Lithuania.