Ministry proposes tougher punishments for spies in Lithuania

VILNIUS – Lithuania's National Defense Ministry has drafted amendments on tougher prison sentences for spies, and those who admit their guilt before charges are pressed and help law enforcement institutions could be exempt from criminal liability.

The amendments would increase the lower limit of prison sentences for spying from the existing 2-10 years and 3-15 years, depending on the severity, to 4-10 and 6-15 years.

The amendments would also introduce liability for spying for legal entities.

Moreover, under the amendments, persons who admit their guilt before charges are pressed and help law enforcement institutions to disclose representatives of foreign states or their organizations who should have been provided with collected information would avoid criminal liability.

Up until now, eights persons have been sentenced to prison for spying in Lithuania, issued prison sentences ranging from three to ten years and six months.