Hate crime legislation in Lithuania

Criminal Code of Lithuania (as last amended on 28 April 2022) (Excerpts)

Article 60. Aggravating Circumstances

1. The following shall be considered as aggravating circumstances:

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12) the act has been committed in order to express hatred towards a group of persons or a person belonging thereto on grounds of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, nationality, language, descent, ethnic origin, social status, religion, convictions or views;

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2. When imposing a penalty, a court shall not take into consideration an aggravating circumstance which is provided for in a law as constituting the body of a crime.

Article 129. Murder

1. A person who murders another person

shall be punished by a custodial sentence for a term of seven up to fifteen years.

2. A person who murders

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13) in order to express hatred towards a group of persons or a person belonging thereto on grounds of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, nationality, language, descent, ethnic origin, social status, religion, convictions or views shall be punished by a custodial sentence for a term of eight up to twenty years or by a life custodial sentence.

Article 135. Severe Health Impairment

1. A person who causes bodily harm or an illness to a person resulting in the victim’s loss of eyesight, hearing, ability to speak, ability to reproduce, pregnancy or other serious mutilation, contracting of a terminal illness or a long-lasting illness posing a threat to his life or seriously affecting his mental health or in the loss of a considerable part of professional or general capacity for work or in a permanent disfigurement of the victim’s body shall be punished by a custodial sentence for a term of up to ten years.

2. A person who causes a serious bodily injury or illness

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Article 138. Non-Severe Health Impairment

1. A person who causes bodily harm or an illness to a person resulting in the victim’s loss of a small part of his professional or general capacity for work or in a long-lasting illness, but without developing the after-effects indicated in Article 135(1) of this Code

shall be punished by a restriction of liberty or by arrest or by a custodial sentence for a term of up to three years.

2. A person who causes a bodily harm or illness which is not serious

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Article 312. Desecration of a Grave or Another Place of Public Respect

1. A person who destroys or otherwise desecrates a grave or destroys a monument or desecrates another place of public respect shall be punished by community service or by restriction of liberty or by arrest or by a custodial sentence for a term of up to one year.

2. A person who carries out acts of vandalism in a cemetery or another place of public respect or desecrates a grave or another place of public respect for racist, nationalist or religious reasons shall be punished by community service or by a fine or by a custodial service for a term of up to three years.

Article 170. Incitement against Any National, Racial, Ethnic, Religious or Other Group of Persons

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3. A person who publicly incites violence or a physical violent treatment of a group of persons or a person belonging thereto on grounds of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, nationality, language, descent, ethnic origin, social status, religion, convictions or views or finances or otherwise supports such activities

shall be punished by a fine or by restriction of liberty or by arrest or by a custodial sentence for a term of up to three years.

4. A legal entity shall also be held liable for the acts provided for in this Article.