Domestic Violence Survivor Says Police and Support Center Both Let Her Down

A Lithuanian citizen, referred to under the changed name Laura, says she faced disappointment from both law enforcement and a support organization after living through an abusive relationship in Latvia. Following a dispute with her partner that ended with a hospital visit, she came away feeling treated more like a nuisance than someone in need of protection.

According to Laura, the police officer who responded to the incident collected her belongings and had her sign a statement, remarking that the situation may have arisen due to a language barrier. Laura holds Lithuanian citizenship, which may have complicated communication with authorities.

She also described disappointment with the "Marta" center, an organization that supports victims of violence. Its lawyer reportedly told her that criminal and administrative cases fell outside her specialization, and that the assistance she offered was more of a personal favor than an official service.

How the relationship began and changed

Laura met her partner, referred to as Kristaps, in Latvia at the beginning of 2024. She recalls the relationship starting intensely, with the couple inseparable from their first date. At the time, Laura was working a well-paid but tedious job in Vilnius. After a couple of months, Kristaps suggested she move in with him, telling her he would take full responsibility for her. Laura understood this as a promise of financial support, but her partner reportedly meant something far broader.

Since the couple seemingly shared a similar vision for their future, Laura agreed to move to Riga to be with Kristaps, confident she would eventually marry him. The warm relationship continued for about another six months before things began to deteriorate. Laura says her partner humiliated her, insulted her, left her without money, and undermined her faith in people and in life itself. During the relationship, he also reportedly took away her phone and her keys.