In December 1998, the Lithuanian Constitutional Court...

In December 1998, the Lithuanian Constitutional Court held that the provisions of the Criminal Code on the death penalty were unconstitutional. On December 22, 1998 the Lithuanian Parliament passed a law amending several provisions of the Criminal Code and confirming the abolition of the death penalty. At the same time, another law was passed converting death sentences already pronounced to life imprisonment. Nine prisoners were thought to be on death row at the time.