Other events in Baltic States

Altogether 80 cases of manslaughter, murder or attempts thereof connected with domestic violence were registered in Estonia in the last five years, the Ministry of the Interior said LETA. 

While in 2011, domestic violence developed into a crime that claimed lives or remained an attempt on 17 occasions, then such cases numbered 20 in 2012, 19 in 2013, 10 in 2014, 10 in 2015, nine in 2016 and 14 in 2017.

According to the ministry, mistreatment in a relationship can be found in unbelievably many lives. If one leaves out mental abuse, the statistics are shocking as one in three women in Estonia have experienced physical abuse from the age of 15. Every year, the Estonian police register thousands of cases where male partners attack their female partners, the ministry said. 

An close relationship ending in the death of one family member is often the end result of repeated violence and a sequence of bad situations. During the period 2012-2014, 23 cases of manslaughter or murder were registered in Estonia that took place between current or former life partners. In the case of four incidents, there were children in the same room the killing took place in. Four sons murdered their mothers.

An analysis of the crimes indicated that in most cases, domestic disputes or jealousy were named as the reasons for the crime. Altogether 61 % of incidents involved a perpetrator who had previously behaved in a violent manner, while only five people had had no prior contact with the police. Over the course of this period of time, perpetrators caused victims permanent and severe health damage on 35 occasions.

In cases where a women killed their male partners, the women were often victims of long-term abuse. The in-depth analysis of the cases indicates that violence by women is often a tool for protecting themselves and children or an attempt to put an end to long-term abuse.