Lithuania: Domestic violence may now lead to eviction

A new procedure has come into force in Lithuania in cases of domestic violence as of July 2023, LNK reports. If domestic violence is reported, police can order the suspect to leave the house immediately for 15 days. There are an average of 55,000 reports of domestic violence a year, and 86% of the victims are women. Criminal investigations are initiated in just 20% of cases, while the rest of the reports remain in the “grey zone.” Under the new rules, suspected abusers can now be evicted for 15 days. The police will decide the eviction based on certain criteria, such as whether the suspect is drunk, violent, or has a criminal record.