Amendments were made to the criminal code in 2009. First, Lithuania adopted general aggravating-circumstances provisions in Article 60 (12) that are applicable to all crimes “committed to express hatred towards a group of persons or a person belonging thereto on grounds of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, nationality, language, descent, social status, religion, convictions or views”. Second, some specific crimes (murder and a number of types of assault) were given a specific aggravating-circumstances provision in cases where they are committed with a bias motivation, with the same list of protected characteristics as in Article 60(12).
Lithuania reported the launch of an Action Plan focusing on, among other issues, combating hate crime.
Official figures record three desecration of graves.
The Stephen Roth Institute reported one violent anti-Semitic incident.
The Holy See reported cases in which cemeteries were desecrated and churches vandalized, basing its report on information provided by the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.