„Faktiškai nekreipdavo dėmesio": sovietinė teisėsauga ir smurto prieš moteris problema istoriniuose šaltiniuose

ENThe source of historical data discussed in the present text - material about sexual violence in Soviet times, collected employing the semi-structured interview method, is much more useful than institutional and archive documents. The survey revealed a certain spread of gender-related violence at an undoubtedly considerable scale in Soviet Lithuania, in addition, it demonstrated that Soviet law enforcement forces not only had not managed to cope with this problem, but even enhanced it by their own indifference and ideological orientation. At the time, when the officers used to seek good performance indicators and realize the communist ideology ' myth about decreasing number of offences during socialist times, the women were suffering without justice and help. Logically, in Soviet times, there was no mechanism of psychological help, needed by these people. Nevertheless, according to the officer from Šiauliai who was interviewed, the situation of women used to be a problem more systematic than personal, which did not depend on the goodwill of officers “I would say that it was not our insensitiveness, but such was the system itself. Officers had to behave in such a manner." The former militia man above from Varniai, who was born in 1966, is stating: “ They say that in Soviet times there was absolute anarchy. Everybody used to do what he / she wanted. The echoes of this Soviet legacy can be felt even today. Those habits have not disappeared. Attention should be drawn to the fact that both public in general and Soviet law enforcement bodies felt fear and, therefore, did not help these people; as well as they were indifferent towards people that felt victims to this type violence.In addition, many officers pointed out, that m ilitia in Soviet times was considered a repressive structure, officers induced fear, while law enforcement policy was not trusted by people. All this prevented healthy functioning of society; while lack of trust in justice even more worsened psychological health of people. Those abused women were left alone with their pain and traumas, not being able to hope for help from law enforcement institutions; from society they got indifference at best, while in the worst cases received bad treatment, bullying and condemnation. For these reasons namely, their experience has remained securely locked and hidden so far. Their stories - just one of many examples, revealing how Soviet institutions, instead of being justice enforcement bodies, were pillars for culture of violence.