author’s allegations that none of the sentences against him explained which version of article 104 of the Criminal Code had been applied in imposing six years’ deprivation of liberty. However, the Committee also notes that the author’s sentence of six years was well within the latitude provided by the earlier law (3 to 12 years), and that the State party has referred to the existence of certain aggravating circumstances. In the circumstances of the case, the Committee cannot, on the basis of the material before it, conclude that the author’s penalty was not meted out according to the law that was in force at the time when the offence was committed. Consequently, there was no violation of article 15, paragraph 1, of the Covenant. complaint is inadmissible for lack of substantiation under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. 6.4 With regard to the author’s allegations concerning articles 14, paragraph 3 (c), and 15, paragraph 1, of the Covenant, the Committee considers that these complaints have been sufficiently substantiated for purposes of admissibility. Accordingly, it will consider this part of the communication on the merits in the light of the information furnished by the parties, in conformity with the provisions of article 5, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol. Consideration of the merits 7.1 As to the author’s allegations that the trial went on for too long, since the investigation began in September 1991 and the court of first instance convicted him on 1 January 1996, the Committee takes note of the State party’s arguments that the duration of the proceedings should be calculated as from the entry into force of the Covenant and the Protocol for Lithuania on 20 February 1992. The Committee nevertheless notes that, although the investigation began before the entry into force, the proceedings continued until 1996. The Committee also takes note of the fact that the State party has not given any explanation of the reason why four years and four months elapsed between the start of the investigation and the conviction in first instance. Considering that the investigation ended, according to the information available to the Committee, following the report by the forensic medical commission and that the case was not so complex as to justify a delay of four years and four months, or three years and 2 months after the preparation of the forensic medical report, the Committee concludes that there was a violation of article 14, paragraph 3 (c). 8. The Human Rights Committee, acting under article 5, paragraph 4, of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is of the view that the facts as found by the Committee constitutes a violation of article 14, paragraph 3 (c), of the Covenant. 9. In accordance with article 2, paragraph 3 (a), of the covenant, the State party is under an obligation to provide the author with an effective remedy, including compensation. The State party is also under an obligation to ensure that similar violations do not occur in future. 10. Bearing in mind that, by becoming a party to the Optional Protocol, the State party has recognized the competence of the Committee to determine whether there has been a violation of the Covenant and that, pursuant to article 2 of the Covenant, the State party has undertaken to ensure to all individuals within its territory or subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the Covenant and to provide an effective and enforceable remedy when a violation has been established, the Committee wishes to receive from the State party, within 90 days, information about the measures taken to give effect to the Committee’s Views. The State party is also requested to publish the Committee’s Views. 7.2 With regard to the author’s allegations that he was sentenced to a heavier penalty than the one that should have been imposed at the time the offence was committed, the Committee takes note of the 125