Summary Though economic abuse is under researched in Lithuania it is not less widespread nor less serious as physical or sexual violence. The objective of this article is to determine the scope of prosecuting economic abuse in context of domestic violence. Desk research methodology based on case study is used: qualitative content research of Lithuanian case law. The findings of the research suggest that prosecution of economic abuse as a specific form of domestic violence is rather limited in Lithuania: i.e., criminalization is only partial; law enforcement faces difficulties in recognizing and evidencing it; the case law is not adequate (e. g., prosecution mostly focuses on physical violence, it is incident-based, ignores the specifics of domestic violence and economic abuse is commonly interpreted as context of systemic violence but not an independent basis for prosecution). Accordingly, there is a need to enhance criminal law response to economic abuse and explore for the optimal alternative to ensure this in Lithuania.

No abstract

No abstract

lt-national-report>. Šiame straipsnyje šios sąvokos vartojamos sinonimiškai. 2 Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R(83)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on participation of the public in crime policy. 1983-06-23, 25-32 p.; Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R(85)11 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the position of the victim in the framework of criminal law and procedure. 1985-06-28; Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R(87)21 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on assistance to victims and the prevention of victimisation. 1987-09-17; Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation Rec (2006)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on assistance to crime victims. 2006-06-14. 3 2004-04-29 Tarybos direktyva 2004/80/EB dėl žalos atlyginimo nusikaltimo aukoms. OL L 261, 2004-08-06, p. 15; 2011-04-05 Europos Parlamento ir Tarybos direktyva 2011/36/ES dėl prekybos žmonėmis prevencijos, kovos su ja ir aukų apsaugos, pakeičianti Tarybos pamatinį sprendimą 2002/629/TVR. OL L 101, 2011-04-15, p. 1, 11-17 str.; 2011-12-13 Europos Parlamento ir Tarybos direktyva 2011/92/ES dėl kovos su seksualine prievarta prieš vaikus, jų seksualiniu išnaudojimu ir vaikų pornografija, kuria pakeičiamas Tarybos pamatinis

The criminalisation of stalking through a specific law is a clear tendency in the EU. At the end of 2021, a new relevant provision in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania was introduced (Art. 148-1). It incorporates the latest EU legal developments in this field. The new norm determines a wide scope of eligibility and an inclusive concept of stalking to work as an umbrella charge that tackles the whole tactics of stalking. However, the new provision has serious shortcomings that are related to more lenient outcomes for the perpetrator, systemic incompatibility, the generic nature of the law, and consequences-specific construction. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to make urgent amendments to achieve the primary goal of criminalising stalking, i.e., better responding to victims’ experiences.