TheLithuanianPost

Vilnius, Lithuania
Monday, March 16, 2015
2 pages
Five Euros
__________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________
Lithuanias tensions
increase with Russia
___________________________________

TensionsbetweenRussiaandLithuaniarise,
as NATO forces are sent into Lithuania to
help train soldiers, as well as the USArmy.
While the war in Ukraine and Russia is still
ongoing, Lithuania began to send troops to
Ukraine with their intentions to counter the
rebels however, this planhadbackfired ina
way. As soon as Russia had heard about
this, they were angered that Lithuania
however, Lithuania is lucky enough to be
protected by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization). Furthermore, the UShassent
at least 2500 troops to commence
Operation Iron Sword,
which wasa military
exercise to improvise ground and air
defense maneuvers near the border of
1
Lithuania.
This proves that the tensions
between Baltic states are arising, due to the
fact that Russia is slowly pressing on the
small Republic of Lithuania byillegally flying
armedmilitaryjetsoverLithuania.

Furthermore, Obama has said, today more

NATO aircraft patrol the skies ofthe Baltics.
More American forces are on the ground
training and rotating through each Baltic
states. More NATO ships patrol the Baltic

Sea. 1
These strong statements also prove
that Lithuanians are actively protected
against Russia although, it is likely that
Russia may attack during a military
exercise, just like the attack on Ukraine.
Furthermore, US troops and NATO troops
are actively training in the Baltic states to
1
prepare against a Russian invasion.
When
we spoke to one of the US soldiers, he

stand with all of its NATO alliance

partners It showsthatwerestrong,Europe
is strong and theres a collective defense
ready to defend against any foreign
aggression. The soldieradded on, We feel
safer training together, he said. Were
trying to be ready to react to anythreatfrom
2
outside.
Lithuania indeed has a good
reason to feelthreatened, as it was ruledby
Moscow for decades until the end of the
Cold War and doesnt want tobe ruledby
VladimirPutinnow.

replied,theU.S.iswillingto

Domestic Violence
Problems in Lithuania
_____________________________________

We must mention about the problems that

are currently happening within Lithuania,
such as domestic violence. Begging to differ
that it may not be a problem, it is defined
as a problem, such as a problemis defined
as a matter or situation regarded as
unwelcome or harmful and needing to be
dealtwithandovercome.
_____________________________________________________

Domestic Violence
Laws in Action
_____________________________________________________
In 2011, an important development to
combat violence againstwomen inLithuania
occurred with the passage of the Law on
Protection against Domestic Violence.When
legislators input the law regarding domestic
he law took effect after four months. In

police. Furthermore, the responded byfielding

3
at least3,300investigations.
InDecember15,
police fielded about 3,000 calls reporting
domestic violence and launched 935
3
investigations.
This proves that domestic
violence is common in Lithuania, and itshows
thelawmakers aredoingtheirbesttostopthis.
For example, authoritiesfailed to investigatea
case regarding a victim who had been
domestically abused, after the violence
happened in 2001. In addition, Lithuania
violated Article 3 (prohibition of torture and of
inhumane or degrading treatment) therefore,
it held the authorities responsible for not
5
providingadequateprotection.

Moreover, in 2013, a lithuanian woman who

was convicted of DV won her case against
the State of Lithuania at theEuropeanCourt
of Human Rights, which ruled that Lithuania
had failed to provide her with adequate

itsowncitizens,andmostlikely,womenare
usuallyputintothatmajority.

In conclusion, Lithuania needs to raise

awareness more on domestic issues,
because people are not receiving their full
amount of rights, and the authorities do not
provide adequate protection. In addition to
this, violence against women needs to end,
because it is simply unjust to do these type
ofactions.

CoverStory
2

http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/2015/03/02/lithuania
stugofwarwithrussiajustgotserious/
"Lithuania'sTugofWarwithRussiaJustGotSerious."
InternationalPolicyDigest
.N.p.,02Mar.2015.Web.09Mar.
2015.
6
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/russiamilita
ryexercisesukraineborder

OpEd
1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence_in_Lithuania
"DomesticViolenceinLithuania."
Wikipedia
.Wikimedia
Foundation,n.d.Web.09Mar.2015.
http://www.stopvaw.org/lithuania2
"Lithuania."
Lithuania
.N.p.,n.d.Web.09Mar.2015
4
http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/12299/newdomesticviolen
celawsstarttobite201212299/
"NewDomesticViolenceLawsStarttoBiteTheLithuania
Tribune."
TheLithuaniaTribune
.N.p.,n.d.Web.09Mar.
2015.
5
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/genderequality/files/exchange_of
_good_practice_be/lt_comments_paper_en.pdf

December 2011, 10,000reports of domestic

violencewerereceivedtotheLithuanian

3
protection.
This also shows that Lithuania
doesntprotect