Minister seeks long-term protection order after Vilnius district killing

LRT reported that Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė is proposing a long-term domestic violence protection order after a man allegedly killed his cohabiting partner in Vilnius district.

The ministry is preparing amendments to the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence to strengthen protection and assistance for victims. The proposed changes would introduce a long-term protection order, replacing the current 15-day emergency order in cases where it does not provide sufficient protection.

Victims would also receive legal and psychological assistance, while fines for breaching the conditions of a protection order would be increased by more than double under the Code of Administrative Offences.

Ruginienė said behaviour-change programmes should become mandatory for repeat domestic violence offenders. Those who fail to complete the programmes would be required to pay for them themselves.

The ministry plans to submit the amendments to the Seimas in early autumn. Ruginienė said administrative measures alone were not enough and called for more effective action by law enforcement agencies.

According to BNS, police suspect that a man killed his cohabiting partner in Vilnius district on Tuesday. A woman had reportedly called for help at around 2 p.m., saying that her former cohabiting partner, who was subject to a domestic violence protection order, was trying to enter the home.

Officers found the woman with serious knife wounds. She later died. Police detained a man who had also suffered knife injuries and was taken to hospital. A child was at the scene and has been placed in a safe environment with the child’s father, according to the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service. The child has received emergency psychological assistance.