Panevėžys court sends documents to police for Bartoševičius’s detention

The Panevėžys Regional Court on Monday sent documents to the Vilnius County Police for the detention of former MP Kristijonas Bartoševičius, following the enforcement of his seven-year prison sentence for sexual crimes against minors, LRT reports.

Judge Valdas Ciesiūnas signed the enforcement order, which was forwarded to the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat, according to Jolita Gudelienė, assistant to the court’s chairperson for media and public relations.

The Lithuanian Court of Appeal had previously upheld the seven-year prison sentence against Bartoševičius and referred the case to the Panevėžys court for execution. The former politician had been free on written undertaking pending the ruling, with his identity documents confiscated.

The appellate court rejected Bartoševičius’s appeal last month, ruling that his guilt was established beyond doubt. The court found that he had systematically committed crimes against children, targeting one victim over a two-year period.

In addition to imprisonment, Bartoševičius was barred from working with minors for five years after his release. He was also ordered to pay €32,000 in material and non-material damages to victims and witnesses.

The case was heard in closed sessions to protect the privacy of the underage victims and witnesses. Bartoševičius’s legal team may still appeal to Lithuania’s Supreme Court or request a suspension of the sentence, though his lawyer previously stated that strong grounds would be required for such a motion.