LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Desovietizacija; Tranzitinis teisingumas; Baltijos šalys; USRR; Tarptautinė teisė; Istorija; Dekomunizacija; Liustracija. Keywords: Desovietization; Transitional justice; Baltic states; USRR; International law; History; Decommunization; Lustration.
ENThe analysis carried out in this study is built around the following research hypothesis – compared to other parts of the former USSR, the level of agreed accountability for Soviet domination in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was much deeper, although far from complete. It was mainly due to the adoption of an unambiguous legal position regarding the existence of the Baltic states under the illegal Soviet occupation in 1940–1991 (with a break from 1941–1944, i.e., the German occupation). It is also due to the Baltic states continuing the international legal subjectivity of the interwar independent states after 1991. Therefore, this analysis will discuss the legal mechanisms of the transitional justice that was implemented by the Baltic states after they reclaimed independence; furthermore it will look into their political and social perception, which translates into problems that still remain related to working through the totalitarian regime that prevailed in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for almost half a century. [From the publication]