If the Imprisonment for a Life Sentence Is Applicable in Lithuanian Republic  and If It's Regiment Do Not Violate the 3rd Article of Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms?

Magistro darbe atliekamas mokslinis tyrimas, kuriuo siekiama ištirti lygtinio paleidimo instituto netaikymą nuteistiems iki gyvos galvos asmenims Lietuvos Respublikoje ir šio netaikymo suderinimą su Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvencijos 3 straipsniu. Pirmoje darbo dalyje apibrėžiama lygtinio paleidimo instituto sąvoka ir tikslai. Antroje darbo dalyje analizuojamas lygtinio paleidimo institutas Lietuvos Respublikoje, taip pat lygtinio paleidimo taikymas nuteistiesiems iki gyvos galvos. Šioje darbo dalyje aptariama už kokius nusikaltimus skiriama laisvės atėmimo iki gyvos galvos bausmė, laisvės atėmimo bausmės švelninimo galimybės šios grupės nuteistiesiems asmenims: amnestija, malonė, atleidimas nuo bausmės dėl ligos, taip pat Lietuvos teismų sprendimai dėl lygtinio paleidimo taikymo šiai nuteistųjų grupei. Trečiojoje darbo dalyje gilinamasi į užsienyje egzistuojantį teisinį reglamentavimą lygtinio paleidimo taikymo nuteistiesiems iki gyvos galvos srityje. Su Lietuvos Respublikoje egzistuojančiu lygtinio paleidimo teisiniu reglamentavimu kaip palyginimui pateikiamas Vengrijos Respublikos, Estijos Respublikos, Suomijos Respublikos teisinis reglamentavimas. Ketvirtoje darbo dalyje gilinamasi į lygtinio paleidimo instituto taikymą nuteistųjų iki gyvos galvos atžvilgiu tarptautiniame kontekste, nagrinėjama Europos Žmogaus Teisių Teismo praktika. Toliau aptariama valstybės atsakomybė Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvencijos 3 straipsnio pažeidimo atveju. Taip pat šiame darbe kaip tyrimo medžiaga panaudota nuteistų iki gyvos galvos asmenų apklausos duomenys. Atlikus mokslinį tyrimą, darbo pradžioje iškelta hipotezė, kad Lietuvoje taikoma laisvės atėmimo iki gyvos galvos bausmė ir jos rėžimas pažeidžia Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvencijos 3 straipsnį pasitvirtino, kadangi lyginant Lietuvos teisinę sistemą su kitomis Europos sąjungos šalimis, kurios yra įsipareigojusios pagal Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvenciją, jose yra įtvirtintas lygtinio paleidimo institutas nuteistiesiems iki gyvos galvos. Šią hipotezę taip pat patvirtina Europos Žmogaus Teisių Teismo praktika ir kiti tarptautinės teisės aktai. Darytina išvada, kad šis prieštaravimas Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvencijai yra dėl jos nuostatų praktinio įgyvendinimo problemų bei dėl Lietuvos teisės aktų ydingumo.In majority of the world countries the imprisonment for life is the harshest sentence which is assigned for the most serious crimes. In Lithuania this penalty was established not so long time ago, in the year of 1988 after the adoption of a law that abolished the death penalty. The Republic of Lithuania provides for parole Institute but it should be noted that the Article 158 of the Lithuanian Republic Penal Code if prohibiting to apply this institute for the persons that are imprisoned for life and this issue is distinguishing Lithuania from all the other world countries. For this group of convicts the sentence can be reduced only by applying amnesty, mercy or exempting from punishment due to illness. This raises the question if this type of imprisonment does not violate the fundamental human rights. The 3rd article of European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is established, that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. At this moment a group of convicts that are imprisoned for life had submitted the petition to European Human Rights Court due violation if alleged European Convention on Human Rights violation of Article 3, as in Lithuania the parole Institute is not applicable for the convicts to life imprisonment. In the beginning of this work the hypothesis was raised and formulated as follows, that “the imprisonment for a life sentence is applicable in Lithuanian Republic and if its’ regiment do not violate the 3rd article of Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”. In order to maintain this research the following objectives were raised: to define the concept and objectives of parole and to analyze parole Institute legal system regulation in Republic of Lithuania regulation with respect to sentenced to life imprisonment. To overview the parole Institute legal system regulation with respect to sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary, Estonia and Sweden Republics. To analyze the practice of European Human rights Court and other international documentation concerning parole Institute applicability to the life sentenced. To discuss the possible responsibilities of the Lithuanian Republic in case of violation of European Convention on Human Rights. This work contains four parts. In the first part the Parole definition and objectives are provided. In the second part of the work the Lithuanian Republic Parole Institute is analyzed, including the analysis of parole application usage in case in life imprisoned convicts cases. In the third part of the work the overview of Parole Institute documentation for the life sentenced in foreign countries is provided. In the last part of the work the practice of European Human rights Court and other international documentation concerning parole Institute applicability to the life sentenced is analyzed. Lastly the possible responsibilities of the Lithuanian Republic in case of violation of European Convention on Human Rights are overviewed. Also it should be noted, that in this work for the purposes of the research the data from interviews with the life sentenced convicts was used. The objectives raised in the beginning of the work were successfully reached after the researched was conducted. The hypothesis what was raised in the beginning of the work, that the imprisonment for a life sentence is applicable in Lithuanian Republic and if its’ regiment do not violate the 3rd article of Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, was found to be confirmed. The research that was conducted once again showed that for the persons that were life sentenced in Lithuanian republic the parole is not applicable. In Lithuania de jure for the life sentenced persons it is provided, that the sentence can be reduced only by applying amnesty, mercy or exempting from punishment due to illness. But the research conducted allowed to reveal that de facto the sentence reduction possibilities are not active, are exceptional, singular and are insufficient, thus for the analyzed group of convicts there is almost impossible to be released from the prison. After analyzing the foreign legal base regulation, European Human rights court’s practices and other international documents due to parole application to life sentenced, the conclusion was made that the norms implemented in Lithuania do not fully meet European Human rights and fundamental freedoms’ defined standards, as were is not parole institute in Lithuanian republic for a life sentenced persons. The life imprisonment sentence by itself is not prohibited and is in compliance with the mentioned Convention, as each country is free to choose particular criminal justice system, including sentence review and release procedure, however it should be ensured that the system will not object to the Convention. The violation of Conventions is appointed when person is imprisoned without possibility of parole. The imprisoned for life sentence from the beginning of punishment implementations has a right to know about the possibility of parole, conditions and when it can happen. It is also important to note, that imprisonment should be valid until the convict poses a threat to society. If Lithuania would violate the Convention, then it could be obligated to compensate the damage. Taking in to consideration the legislation of life sentence imprisonment in the foreign countries, European Human rights Court practice, recommendations of European Council and other international legal acts, it was concluded that in Lithuanian penal system for life imprisoned persons it should be provided parole Institute too.Teisės fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta