Mirties bausmės raida Lietuvoje

Abstract

The article "Evolution of the Death Penalty in Lithuania" reveals the outlook upon the death penalty in Lithuania during different historical periods. The author states, that according to the outlook upon the death penalty or its execution, several different periods might be distinguished. The first one is the period time when Lithuania was not yet a centralized state, and the customary law norms were applied. The second period is the time when centralized state of Lithuania was being formed and written codes of law came into force. This period lasted till the adoption of the First Statute of the Great Duchess of Lithuania in 1529. The third period covers the years of the First Statute validity and lasts till the middle of XIX century. Tsar Russian punishment laws started the fourth period. The years of independent Lithuania between the two world wars would be the fifth period. The sixth period covers of soviet occupation. Renovation of the independence of Lithuania started the seventh period. Looking through the evolution of the death penalty in Lithuania, the following conclusion might be drawn: every time period, except years of soviet occupation, the ways of solving the death penalty question were getting more and more progressive. Bearing in mind the facts, investigated in the article, as well as the death penalty position in the present legislation, we can state the abolishment of the death penalty in Lithuania would be logical and natural event.