Strasbourg court to announce decision in Romuva v Lithuania case

Romuva applied to the Strasbourg court in 2019, when the Seimas refused to grant her the status of a state-recognized religious community.

The community argued that Lithuania had violated the articles of the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of thought, conscience and religion, non-discrimination and the right to a fair trial, an effective remedy.

Two years ago, the Seimas did not grant Romuva’s application for the status of a state-recognized religious community, although the Ministry of Justice had issued a positive conclusion.

Under the law, if Romuva’s application is not granted, the community could reapply for state recognition after ten years.

With the recognition of the state, Romuva would have acquired the right to a land tax relief, his offenders would have been compulsorily insured by the state with social security and the marriages would have been recognized as having been celebrated by a civil registry office.

In its conclusion, the Justice Ministry noted that Romuva is the sixth largest religious community in the country, surpassing traditional communities such as Greek Catholics, Jews, Karaites and Sunni Muslims.

During the 2001 census, 1.2 thousand people were attributed to the ancient Baltic faith. population, and in 2011 – 5.1 thousand. population.

The direct roots of the neo-pagan community go back to the local history and ethnoculture movement Ramuva, which began in 1967, and whose participants collected material on ethnic traditions and promoted ethnic festivals.

The registration of the first religious communities in 1992 is considered the beginning of religious activities.

Religious communities can apply for state recognition at least 25 years after their initial registration in Lithuania. If the request is not granted, it can be reapplied after ten years.