THE CRIMINAL CASE AND EVENTS OF JANUARY 13: LEGAL, CRIMINOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH

The fateful events and criminal case of January 13 is not only a historical case of Lithuania’s liberation from the Soviet Union, but is also closely related to current political realities. This topic covers a wide range of legal, criminological and historical aspects, including the distinction between positive and natural law; interfaces between Nuremberg, Eichmann and January 13 processes; selective justice and the issue of commander’s liability; individualization of punishment for commanders and enforcers; limitations of criminal law in incriminating acts falling under Arendt’s term known as “banality of evil”; the construction of public discourse, and the formation of historical narratives within it. The aim of the project is to analyse the criminal case and the events of January 13, 1991, and their assessment in public discourse.

The empirical study will consist of three parts: 1) a qualitative analysis of the January 13 case; 2) analysis of public discourse; 3) a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews based on victimological access. The results of the project will be published in 3 scientific articles published in international journals (in English) with a citation index in the IF CA JCR and/ or SNIP SCOPUS database, in a scientific study and in 2 science popularization articles (in Lithuanian). It is also planned to read 2 scientific reports in the international conference (e.g. the 21^st Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology in Florence, Italy).

The findings of the research have been presented at scientific and public events and in various publications:

„Lithuania’s “Bloody Sunday”: a criminological and legal approach” (S. Zaksaitė).

„On 13 January: once again, but anew” (S. Zaksaitė) (in lithuanian).

Monika Kareniauskaitė. „Crime and Punishment of Russian Imperialism: From January 13th to the Ukrainian War” (in lithuanian).

LRT radio show „Perimeters of history. January 13th. Stereotypes and law” (interview with S. Zaksaite) (in lithuanian).

LRT radio show „A jazzy story. Why Gorbachev was not questioned in the January 13 case?” (interview with S. Zaksaite) (in lithuanian).

OpTV show „Teisingumo registras” (interview with the signatory of the Act of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania A. Endriukaičiu ir S. Zaksaite) (in lithuanian).

Presentation in the  at the e-conference of the European Association of Criminology „The case of January 13”  (2021, S.Zaksaitė).

Presentation at the e-conference of the European Association of Criminology „The Construction of Public Discourse: Criminal Case and Events in Lietuvos Aidas (1991-2001)” (2021, S. Černevičiūtė).