Henrikas Daktaras, a convicted individual serving a life sentence in Lithuania, has filed an appeal with the Lithuanian Court of Appeal through his lawyer Vytautas Sirvydis. The appeal seeks to reduce his sentence to a five-year term, arguing that the previous ruling by the Kaunas District Court did not adequately consider Daktaras's age, health condition, social ties with family, and his interest in religious activities, specifically regarding the Bible.

Sirvydis claims that Lithuanian courts have been disregarding the recommendations of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding life sentences. He contends that the legal process has become overly formal and lacks the necessary depth when it comes to evaluating the circumstances of individuals sentenced to life. Sirvydas points out that despite recent payments of civil claims related to Daktaras's case, the Court has shown a trend of consistently denying requests for reduced sentences in similar cases over the past year.

The situation raises critical questions about the justice system's adherence to human rights guidelines and the treatment of long-term prisoners in Lithuania. Daktaras’s efforts to return to public life underscore ongoing discussions about the proportionality of sentences and the considerations that should be given to the individual circumstances of those incarcerated, especially as they age and seek rehabilitation.