The concept of valuables of high scientific, historical or cultural significance as aggravating element of theft under the theory of law and practice

The article focuses on understanding the content of valuables of high scientific, historical or cultural significance as one of the aggravating element of the theft, stipulated in Part 3 of Article 178 of the Criminal Code of Lithuania. The author represents the conception of this aggravating element in criminal theory and practice and comes to the conclusion, that incrimination of the element aggravating theft valuables of high scientific, historical or cultural significance is determined by the following two criteria: the objective one (it should be established that it is valuable of high scientific, historical or cultural significance rather than just some valuable of sci­entific, historical or cultural significance which has been stolen) and the subjective (i.e. understanding by the offender that he is stealing not just some valuables but valuables which have high significance for science, culture, and history). However, evaluation of the cultural, historical, and scientific significance of valuables is assigned to the competence of experts who have special professional education. In order to avoid possible contradiction with the subjective principle of criminal capacity, the author proposes to specify, when formulating this element, that the aforementioned valuables should be publicly exhib­ited or belong to a publicly accessible collection. Finally, the author discloses some peculiarities of implementation of the analyzed element and shows the inconsequence of the legislator in establishing punishment for some property offences hav­ing the same aggravating elements