Prosecutors close probe into alleged sexual harassment at Vilnius Academy of Arts

Vilnius Academy of Arts
DELFI / Andrius Ufartas

No cases of sexual harassment were established during the investigation, but it was stated that behavior by some VDA lectures had been unethical, the office said on Monday.

More than 20 witnesses were questioned as part of the investigation, it said.

Three VDA lecturers, including two Lithuanian National Culture and Arts Prize winners — photographer Gintautas Trimakas and painter Jonas Gasiūnas — and psychologist Arvydas Liepuonius, have been publicly accused of sexual harassment and improper behavior toward students. All of them have resigned.

According to the office, it was found that a VDA lecturer might have committed sexual misconduct in 2000 and 2001, but the investigation into that was not continued as the Criminal Code of the time did not provide for criminal liability for sexual harassment.

Prosecutors are conducting a separate investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Jonas Vaitkus, a former head of the Russian Theater of Lithuania and teacher at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater.

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