The main objective of the talks was to discuss the action taken by the government to address the long-standing recommendations to improve the situation in prisons as set out in the CPT’s report on the December 2021 visit to the country, which was published on 23 February 2023, together with the response of the Lithuanian authorities. They presented the measures taken and envisaged to tackle the phenomenon of the informal prisoner hierarchy, to further strengthen the fight against the smuggling in of illegal drugs into prisons, and to assist the prisoners with drug-related problems. The talks took place in an open and positive atmosphere, in the spirit of the principle of co-operation.
The delegation met Ewelina Dobrowolska, Minister of Justice, Elanas Jablonskas, Vice-minister of Justice, Virginijus Kulikauskas, the Director of Lithuanian Prison Service, and several other senior officials from the above-mentioned Ministry. Ambassador Andrius Namavičius was also present as Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Council of Europe. The CPT’s delegation was composed of Alan Mitchell (President of the Committee) and Vânia Costa Ramos (member of the CPT in respect of Portugal) who were accompanied by Régis Brillat (Executive Secretary of the CPT) and Dalia Žukauskienė (member of the CPT Secretariat).
