Arrested in Vilnius: 48 hours, and a six-month ceiling
Lithuanian law sets two clear limits. Arrest may not last longer than 48 hours, within which the person must be brought before a judge who decides on detention. And detention as a provisional measure may not be applied for more than six months — a ceiling that several larger member states do not have.
The Lithuanian clock
| Element | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | May not exceed 48 hours | Art. 140 Code of Criminal Procedure |
| Who may arrest | A pre-trial investigation officer or a prosecutor | In flagrante, or on grounds set out in the code |
| Before the judge | Within those 48 hours | The judge decides on detention |
| Detention as a provisional measure | Not more than six months | Art. 127 |
| Extradition detention | Governed by the applicable convention | With its own limits |
| Lawyer and interpreter | Rights under the EU directives | Ask expressly |
The six-month ceiling is worth knowing because it is a real limit rather than a target, and it means the calculation of time already served against it is arithmetic that someone should be doing on the file.
What actually happens in Vilnius
- Nightlife in the old town, with a significant volume of stag and group weekends and the attribution problem that follows.
- Transit on the corridor between Poland and the Baltic states, producing customs, cash and vehicle cases.
- The Belarusian border, close by, with the smuggling and border cases that come with it.
- Financial and technology proceedings, in a country with a large payments and fintech sector under close supervision.
- Drink driving, where Lithuania applies a very low threshold and enforcement is heavy.
- The airport: customs and alert-based arrests.
The fintech dimension deserves a note for anyone with a company or account here: Lithuania licenses a large number of payment institutions, supervision is close, and an ordinary transaction can generate a report and then an investigation. The framework is in the guide on cross-border investigations.
Where an Italian lawyer comes in
Only a lawyer admitted in Lithuania can appear before its courts. The Italian side covers the rest: selecting and briefing that lawyer, explaining the position to the family in their own language, and handling anything with an Italian end — a parallel proceeding, a warrant issued by Italy, an alert in circulation. The model is in how a correspondent case is run.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I be held in Lithuania?
Arrest may not exceed forty-eight hours, within which you must be brought before a judge who decides on detention.
Is there a limit on pre-trial detention?
Yes. Detention as a provisional measure may not be applied for more than six months.
I have a payments company registered here.
Lithuania licenses many payment institutions and supervision is close. Reporting is aggressive, and an ordinary transaction can generate an investigation.
Several of us were arrested together.
Attribution has to be established for each person rather than inferred from presence. Agreed accounts are the fastest route to a further charge.
If this is happening now
First contact is free and covered by professional privilege, at any hour including nights and holidays.