Restriction of human rights in criminal procedure offtenly is integrated part of effective criminal procedure. Nevertheless, more complicated is evaluation of addmisability of application of secret surveillance measures. These procedures restricts private life of a person; therefore, they should be proportional and the results obtained should comply with the general requirements for evidences. Legal regulation of special investigative techniques was not changed in Lithuania recently. Nevertheless court's practices rise new questions related to their proper application. Constitutional jurisprudence of Lithuania indicates that human rights may be restricted only by the law and the courts have no right to fill in legal gaps by limitations of human rights in criminal procedure. Nevertheless, the author of the article concludes that in some aspects the law defining conditions and procedures of secret surveillance measures is unqalitative. Therefore the question may be formulated in respect to the beforementioned ideas – has the court the right (or is the court obliged?), if the gap in legal regulation is identified, to foresee additional, not provided by legislator, bases and conditions, that in essence narrowes application of such a law? Thus, the author concludes that the court seaking for application of proportional restrictions of human rights should apply the principles of criminal procedure. Accordingly, if the court determines that the law lacks proper warranties for proportional restriction of human rights it should fill in such gaps ad hoc. In such cases court practices should comply with consistency, publicity and predictability requirements.
Restriction of human rights in criminal procedure offtenly is integrated part of effective criminal procedure. Nevertheless, more complicated is evaluation of addmisability of application of secret surveillance measures. These procedures restricts private life of a person; therefore, they should be proportional and the results obtained should comply with the general requirements for evidences. Legal regulation of special investigative techniques was not changed in Lithuania recently. Nevertheless court's practices rise new questions related to their proper application. Constitutional jurisprudence of Lithuania indicates that human rights may be restricted only by the law and the courts have no right to fill in legal gaps by limitations of human rights in criminal procedure. Nevertheless, the author of the article concludes that in some aspects the law defining conditions and procedures of secret surveillance measures is unqalitative. Therefore the question may be formulated in respect to the beforementioned ideas – has the court the right (or is the court obliged?), if the gap in legal regulation is identified, to foresee additional, not provided by legislator, bases and conditions, that in essence narrowes application of such a law? Thus, the author concludes that the court seaking for application of proportional restrictions of human rights should apply the principles of criminal procedure. Accordingly, if the court determines that the law lacks proper warranties for proportional restriction of human rights it should fill in such gaps ad hoc. In such cases court practices should comply with consistency, publicity and predictability requirements.
The tendencies of the development of the Lithuanian criminal procedure within the recent twenty years, after Lithuania has regained its independence, are analyzed in the present article. The main factors which influence lawmaking in the sphere of criminal procedure as well as in the application of the criminal procedure norms are discussed. The constitutional imperatives and the human rights, fixed in international and the European Union agreements as the main factors determining the evolution of the law of criminal procedure are reviewed. It is stated that earlier, while amending or supplementing the Code of Criminal Procedure, the utmost attention used to the drawn to the legal tradition of the state, whereas the legal norms of the modern criminal procedure must be subordinated to the principles fixed in the Constitution. After having briefly reviewed the main tendencies of the development of criminal procedure, i.e. the constitutionalization and internationalizationeuropeization, the following conclusion is drawn: the mentioned tendencies have been producing a significant impact on the evolution of the Lithuanian criminal procedure after the restoration of independence and accession to the international treaties. However, the systemic and critical viewpoint towards the impact of the European Union law on the national law of criminal procedure is still missing. ; Straipsnyje analizuojamos Lietuvos baudžiamojo proceso plėtros tendencijos per pastaruosius dvidešimt metų Lietuvai atgavus nepriklausomybę. Straipsnyje analizuojami pagrindiniai veiksniai, turintys įtakos baudžiamojo proceso srities įstatymų leidybai, taip pat taikant baudžiamojo proceso normas. Tai Konstitucijos imperatyvai bei žmogaus teisės, įtvirtintos tarptautiniuose, taip pat ir Europos Sąjungos aktuose. Konstatuojama, kad anksčiau, keičiant arba pildant baudžiamojo proceso kodeksą, didžiausias dėmesys buvo skiriamas valstybės teisės tradicijai. Tuo tarpu šiuolaikinio baudžiamojo proceso teisės normos turi būti subordinuojamos Konstitucijoje įtvirtintiems principams bei tarptautiniuose susitarimuose numatytiems žmogaus teisių apsaugos standartams. Trumpai apžvelgus pagrindines baudžiamojo proceso plėtros tendencijas – konstitucionalizaciją bei internacionalizaciją – europeizaciją – daroma išvada, kad nors istoriškai susiklosčiusio baudžiamojo proceso modelio įtaka šiuolaikinei nacionalinei baudžiamojo proceso teisei išlieka, tačiau ją stipriai veikia minėtos bendros Vakarų teisės raidos tendencijos. Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinio Teismo sprendimai bylose dėl baudžiamojo proceso įstatymų konstitucingumo ne tik šalina nuostatas, prieštaraujančias Konstitucijai, tačiau formuoja Baudžiamojo proceso teisės konstitucinius pagrindus bei tampa svarbiu baudžiamojo proceso normų interpretavimo šaltiniu. Lietuvai prisijungus prie tarptautinių sutarčių, įtvirtinančių žmogaus teises, bei įstojus į Europos Sąjungą, baudžiamojo proceso teisę pradėjo veikti tarptautiniai standartai. Vis dėlto stiprėjanti EŽTT jurisprudencijos įtaka bei ES aktyvūs veiksmai harmonizuojant baudžiamosios justicijos sritį kol kas turėtų būti vertinami kaip tam tikras žmogaus teisių baudžiamajame procese užtikrinimo matas, o ne bendro (unifikuoto) Europos baudžiamojo proceso pamatas. Kita vertus, Lietuvoje dar trūksta sisteminio ir kritinio požiūrio į Europos Sąjungos teisės poveikį nacionalinei baudžiamojo proceso teisei. Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinio Teismo sprendimai bylose dėl baudžiamojo proceso įstatymų konstitucingumo ne tik šalina nuostatas, prieštaraujančias Konstitucijai, tačiau formuoja Baudžiamojo proceso teisės konstitucinius pagrindus bei tampa svarbiu baudžiamojo proceso normų interpretavimo šaltiniu. Lietuvai prisijungus prie tarptautinių sutarčių, įtvirtinančių žmogaus teises, bei įstojus į Europos Sąjungą, baudžiamojo proceso teisę pradėjo veikti tarptautiniai standartai. Vis dėlto stiprėjanti EŽTT jurisprudencijos įtaka bei ES aktyvūs veiksmai harmonizuojant baudžiamosios justicijos sritį kol kas turėtų būti vertinami kaip tam tikras žmogaus teisių baudžiamajame procese užtikrinimo matas, o ne bendro (unifikuoto) Europos baudžiamojo proceso pamatas. Kita vertus, Lietuvoje dar trūksta sisteminio ir kritinio požiūrio į Europos Sąjungos teisės poveikį nacionalinei baudžiamojo proceso teisei.
The author of the paper considers the influence of the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court as the only official entity entitled to interpret the Constitution on the criminal procedure. The paper contains the review the following three trends of impact of the constitutional jurisprudence: influence on the legislature in criminal procedure law, influence on the practice of implementation of criminal procedural law and on the science of criminal procedural law. The paper mostly relies on the works by professionals in the field of constitutional law, including publications by prof. dr. Juozas Žilys, the first Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania and the former dean of the Law Faculty of Mykolas Romeris University, as the area of criminal procedure has so far included only several publications, the direct objective of which was to study issues on the constitutionalisation of criminal procedure. ; Šiame straipsnyje nagrinėjama Konstitucinio Teismo, kaip vienintelio oficialaus Konstitucijos interpretavimo subjekto, jurisprudencijos įtaka baudžiamajam procesui. Apžvelgtos trys konstitucinės jurisprudencijos įtakos baudžiamajam procesui kryptys: poveikis įstatymų leidybai baudžiamojo proceso srityje; Konstitucinio Teismo baigiamųjų aktų poveikis bendrosios kompetencijos teismų praktikai baudžiamosiose bylose bei konstitucinės jurisprudencijos įtaka baudžiamojo proceso doktrinos raidai. Straipsnyje daugiausia remiamasi konstitucinės teisės specialistų darbais, tarp jų ir pirmo Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinio Teismo pirmininko, buvusio Mykolo Romerio universiteto Teisės fakulteto dekano, prof. dr. Juozo Žilio publikacijomis, nes baudžiamojo proceso srityje kol kas yra tik keletas publikacijų, kurių tiesioginis objektas buvo baudžiamojo proceso konstitucionalizacijos problemos. Konstatuojama, kad nors Konstitucijos viršenybė teisės sistemoje yra neginčijama, teisėkūros procese pasitaiko atvejų, kai baudžiamojo proceso įstatymų pakeitimai bei papildymai yra inicijuojami neatlikus analizės, ar jie dera su Konstitucijos reikalavimais konstituciniam baudžiamajam procesui (kaip pavyzdys nurodomas šiuo metu inicijuojamas visuomenės teisėjų institutas, kurį siūloma įvesti nagrinėjant baudžiamąsias bylas). Straipsnyje taip pat keliama prejudicinių faktų (taip pat ir konstatuotų Konstitucinio Teismo baigiamajame akte) taikymo baudžiamosiose bylose problema ir teisės spragų (taip pat ir tų, kurios atsiranda Konstituciniam Teismui pripažinus baudžiamojo proceso nuostatą antikonstitucine) užpildymo problema. Šiems aspektams Lietuvos baudžiamojo proceso moksle neskiriama pakankamai dėmesio, dėl to teismų praktika nėra vienareikšmė. Konstitucinė jurisprudencija ir baudžiamojo proceso doktrina yra svarbios viena kitos raidai. Viena straipsnio dalis skiriama konstitucinės jurisprudencijos ir baudžiamojo proceso doktrinos santykiui. Konstatuojama, kad konstitucinė jurisprudencija tampa neatskiriama mokslinių tyrimų baudžiamojo proceso srityje dalimi, tačiau doktrinoje stokojama kritiško mokslininkų požiūrio į svarbius baudžiamajam procesui Konstitucinio Teismo sprendimus.
Despite the applicable general principles and essential standards provided for in the law, the right of vulnerable persons (i.e. children under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults, for example, adults with mental disabilities) to a fair hearing at different stages of criminal proceedings in the EU is not yet ensured to the full extent. Based on both EU and Lithuanian legal regulation, this article will review only the principal provisions concerning the allocation of victims, suspects, and accused persons to the category of "vulnerable persons". Due to the scope of the article, the vulnerability identification procedure falls outside this research. EU and national legislation suggest that early identification of vulnerability allows for the provision of specific protection measures during criminal proceedings. Analysis of EU and Lithuanian normative acts suggests that minor victims are a priori considered vulnerable and specific protection measures must apply in their case. Meanwhile, the vulnerability of adult victims and their specific protection needs are not assessed at any stage of the proceedings in Lithuania, although the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for certain specific protection measures for victims who, due to a public hearing or questioning, may be subject to "psychological trauma or other serious consequences". Given future EU requirements concerning suspected or accused children and current recommendations concerning the consideration of suspected or accused adults as vulnerable participants of the proceedings, Lithuanian legal regulations in this area must be improved.
ABSTRACT Despite the applicable general principles and essential standards provided for in the law, the right of vulnerable persons (i.e. children under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults, for example, adults with mental disabilities) to a fair hearing at different stages of criminal proceedings in the EU is not yet ensured to the full extent. Based on both EU and Lithuanian legal regulation, this article will review only the principal provisions concerning the allocation of victims, suspects, and accused persons to the category of "vulnerable persons". Due to the scope of the article, the vulnerability identification procedure falls outside this research. EU and national legislation suggest that early identification of vulnerability allows for the provision of specific protection measures during criminal proceedings. Analysis of EU and Lithuanian normative acts suggests that minor victims are a priori considered vulnerable and specific protection measures must apply in their case. Meanwhile, the vulnerability of adult victims and their specific protection needs are not assessed at any stage of the proceedings in Lithuania, although the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for certain specific protection measures for victims who, due to a public hearing or questioning, may be subject to "psychological trauma or other serious consequences". Given future EU requirements concerning suspected or accused children and current recommendations concerning the consideration of suspected or accused adults as vulnerable participants of the proceedings, Lithuanian legal regulations in this area must be improved.
Attention is drawn towards problematic aspects of implementation of international legislation in national criminal law. The idea of international organised crime as of criminality without borders, and of the global problem is raised here. The study analyses the possibilities of confiscation of property; the reader's attention is drawn to extended confiscation of property; it evaluates the topicalities of consolidation of unjust enrichment, as a both radical and efficient measure in the criminal law, also other important issues pertaining to criminal justice. Simultaneously, institutional issues on international cooperation in criminal cases are considered. It is stated that in contemporary world, international legal cooperation in criminal cases is inevitable. Individual states and the European Union create and improve the newly emerging tools of legal cooperation, implement new principles of cooperation, and expand central powers of EU institutions in the cooperation process. Practical application of some new tools (for example, the European arrest warrant) proved their efficiency; it allows thinking that the created new tools, substantiated by application of the same principle of mutual acknowledgement (the European investigation order), will bring tangible results. [.]
Attention is drawn towards problematic aspects of implementation of international legislation in national criminal law. The idea of international organised crime as of criminality without borders, and of the global problem is raised here. The study analyses the possibilities of confiscation of property; the reader's attention is drawn to extended confiscation of property; it evaluates the topicalities of consolidation of unjust enrichment, as a both radical and efficient measure in the criminal law, also other important issues pertaining to criminal justice. Simultaneously, institutional issues on international cooperation in criminal cases are considered. It is stated that in contemporary world, international legal cooperation in criminal cases is inevitable. Individual states and the European Union create and improve the newly emerging tools of legal cooperation, implement new principles of cooperation, and expand central powers of EU institutions in the cooperation process. Practical application of some new tools (for example, the European arrest warrant) proved their efficiency; it allows thinking that the created new tools, substantiated by application of the same principle of mutual acknowledgement (the European investigation order), will bring tangible results. [.]
Just as we never get a second chance to make a good first impression, we may equally be deprived of a unique chance to act both as witnesses and evaluators of the centennial after regaining the independence of the Republic of Lithuania if we fail to review and assess this period. Therefore, we have to seize the opportunity and reflect upon the twisting path of our history since regaining the independence of the state until the current situation. The centennial development of law cannot be disembodied from the story of state's development. One can treat law both as a pathfinder and as a legal guide of the state; however it can likewise be applied as an instrument to solely ensure proper functioning of the state. Creating an effective system of law is not a one-day project; it is the process requiring deliberation, constant effort and deep awareness, otherwise the system will be doomed to failure or malfunctioning. Every state or nation is believed to deserve such a legal system as the efforts that the state puts to ascertain and develop it. The centennial period since the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania can unmistakably be described as a unique one: on the one hand the state was faced with the challenges of restoration and creation in various areas of the state and the society; it later experienced the loss of independence and survived 50 years of occupation; it eventually restored an independent state and was repeatedly faced with fresh challenges of re-establishing a historically-literate, well-structured and well-functioning state-governance system in both national and international levels. On the other hand, the technological and communications progress intensified the recent hundred years to such an extent that it clearly outdistances any previous centennials. Advancement of information technologies intensifies our time, our law, while huge amounts of information and its immense spread accelerate the pace of our life and our history. New forms of social relations and new branches of law emerge all in need of proper legal regulation. The study "The Development of the Lithuanian Law within the Period of 1918-2018: the Centennial Experience and Prospects" is a result of joint research efforts of more than 50 outstanding lawyers representing different areas of law from Mykolas Romeris University, Vytautas Magnus University, and Vilnius University. The study, dedicated to the Centennial of Lithuanian statehood due in 2018, presents the results of scientific research on legal science and major branches of law, covering the period of 1918-beginning of 2018 (information presented in the study covers a period until end-2017); it reflects upon the centennial development of Lithuanian law, discusses its major characteristics, tendencies and preconditions of their formation; it examines its influence on the state and state authorities and envisages possible impact on the development of law in the future. The Lithuanian law of 1918-2018 is analysed from the perspective of three statehood periods. 1918-1940 is the period when the independence of the Republic of Lithuania was declared, the groundwork for the statehood was laid and an independent legal system was being established. 1940- 1990 denotes the period of occupation, when the authentic legal system of Lithuania was destroyed and the Soviet legal system was forcibly entrenched. The latter was based on socialist ideology and the superiority of governmental authority over the civil society. It is not easy to evaluate the span of 1990- 2018 as the impartial assessment of it is seriously hindered by the authors' partial attitude towards the existing surrounding phenomena. [.]
Just as we never get a second chance to make a good first impression, we may equally be deprived of a unique chance to act both as witnesses and evaluators of the centennial after regaining the independence of the Republic of Lithuania if we fail to review and assess this period. Therefore, we have to seize the opportunity and reflect upon the twisting path of our history since regaining the independence of the state until the current situation. The centennial development of law cannot be disembodied from the story of state's development. One can treat law both as a pathfinder and as a legal guide of the state; however it can likewise be applied as an instrument to solely ensure proper functioning of the state. Creating an effective system of law is not a one-day project; it is the process requiring deliberation, constant effort and deep awareness, otherwise the system will be doomed to failure or malfunctioning. Every state or nation is believed to deserve such a legal system as the efforts that the state puts to ascertain and develop it. The centennial period since the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania can unmistakably be described as a unique one: on the one hand the state was faced with the challenges of restoration and creation in various areas of the state and the society; it later experienced the loss of independence and survived 50 years of occupation; it eventually restored an independent state and was repeatedly faced with fresh challenges of re-establishing a historically-literate, well-structured and well-functioning state-governance system in both national and international levels. On the other hand, the technological and communications progress intensified the recent hundred years to such an extent that it clearly outdistances any previous centennials. Advancement of information technologies intensifies our time, our law, while huge amounts of information and its immense spread accelerate the pace of our life and our history. New forms of social relations and new branches of law emerge all in need of proper legal regulation. The study "The Development of the Lithuanian Law within the Period of 1918-2018: the Centennial Experience and Prospects" is a result of joint research efforts of more than 50 outstanding lawyers representing different areas of law from Mykolas Romeris University, Vytautas Magnus University, and Vilnius University. The study, dedicated to the Centennial of Lithuanian statehood due in 2018, presents the results of scientific research on legal science and major branches of law, covering the period of 1918-beginning of 2018 (information presented in the study covers a period until end-2017); it reflects upon the centennial development of Lithuanian law, discusses its major characteristics, tendencies and preconditions of their formation; it examines its influence on the state and state authorities and envisages possible impact on the development of law in the future. The Lithuanian law of 1918-2018 is analysed from the perspective of three statehood periods. 1918-1940 is the period when the independence of the Republic of Lithuania was declared, the groundwork for the statehood was laid and an independent legal system was being established. 1940- 1990 denotes the period of occupation, when the authentic legal system of Lithuania was destroyed and the Soviet legal system was forcibly entrenched. The latter was based on socialist ideology and the superiority of governmental authority over the civil society. It is not easy to evaluate the span of 1990- 2018 as the impartial assessment of it is seriously hindered by the authors' partial attitude towards the existing surrounding phenomena. [.]
