Exploited Algis dies after being taken from farmers

Algis, who worked for 13 years for farmers in exchange for cigarettes and food, has died after his sister found him injured and unable to walk, LRT reported. He had no citizenship and possessed only a Soviet passport.

Algis died in July, despite his health improving somewhat after his sister Gražina brought him home in February. People who helped him said they were comforted only by the fact that law enforcement eventually opened an investigation into his exploitation, and that he died after leaving the farmers.

Gražina found her brother lying on the ground at the farmers’ property in Mažeikiai district. He had burn marks and wounds and had worked there for 13 years without receiving money.

Experts previously told LRT that Algis had experienced labour exploitation, which is a form of human trafficking.

Algis had no citizenship or Lithuanian documents. He held only a passport issued by the Soviet Union and had not applied for Lithuanian citizenship after Lithuania restored its independence. As a result, he could not receive free medical care.

Gražina said the conditions at the property were worse than a barn. The building had only a cement floor and a stove. Algis had severe abscesses and wounds on his legs, while his left side and one arm were badly burned after he fell onto the heated stove while trying to light it.

He eventually received a temporary residence permit, which enabled him to access healthcare without a Lithuanian identity document. However, his health had been so severely weakened that he died in July.

Almantė Karpienė, a representative of the non-governmental organisation Būk su manimi, said the opening of the investigation was a significant achievement. She said law enforcement had previously refused several times to start an investigation.

According to Karpienė, Algis had suffered a stroke, had limited education and struggled to understand the modern world. He also stuttered severely. She said an investigator had repeatedly blamed him for not seeking help.

Karpienė said Algis died without receiving help in time and was unable to care for himself. She linked his case to broader problems in the regions, including the closure of small schools, a lack of specialists, reduced access to healthcare and difficulties reaching law enforcement.

After being taken away from the farmers, Algis still had difficulty walking and needed help getting to the toilet. Karpienė said that at least during the final period of his life, he lived in clean conditions, with clothing and food.