Lithuanian parliament adopts martial law regulations

VILNIUS (BNS) - Parliament has adopted a law on the procedure of
declaring and calling off martial law in the country.

The constitution stipulates at present that in the event of need to
defend the Motherland or to carry out Lithuania's international
commitments, Parliament declares martial law in the country,
announces mobilization or demobilization, adopts decisions on the use
of armed forces.

In the event of armed attack when the sovereignty of the state and
its territorial integrity are threatened, the president adopts a
decision without delay on defence against armed aggression, he
imposes martial law, announces mobilization and presents his
decisions to the parliament for approval at its next sitting.

However, the martial law itself has not been regulated until now. The
adopted law determines the procedure for declaring and calling off
martial law, restricting Lithuanian and foreign citizens' rights and
freedoms; it defines specific activities by organizations and
departments under conditions of martial law.

Under martial law people's rights of inviolability of private
property and home would be restricted, the right of expressing one's
convictions, searching for and spreading information, setting up
political groupings will also be subject to restriction.