Respublika (Lithuanian newspaper)

Respublika
TypeDaily newspaper
PublisherRespublika Publications Group
Editor-in-chiefVitas Tomkus
Founded1989
Political alignmentConservatism, euroskepticism, nationalism, antiglobalism
LanguageLithuanian, Russian
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania
Sister newspapersVakaro Žinios, Žalgiris
Websitewww.respublika.lt

Respublika is a right-wing Lithuanian newspaper, published since September 16, 1989. Since January 7, 1991, it has published a Russian language edition (Республика).[1]

In 1993 one of the founders, deputy editor-in-chief, and investigative journalist Vitas Lingys was shot to death in Vilnius after several death threats.[2] Lingys wrote about organized crime and published several revealing stories about "Vilnius Brigade" crimes. Boris Dekanidze, the head of the Vilnius Brigade in Lithuania, was found guilty of this crime[3] and sentenced to death.[4] He became the last person to be executed in July 1995 before the death sentence was abolished.[5]

According to the TNS Gallup data, Respublika publication group used to be dominating in the country's press market. Newspaper by Respublika publication group (dailies Respublika (Lithuanian and Russian), Vakaro žinios, Šiaulių kraštas and Vakarų ekspresas) were read in average by 79.2% of all newspaper readers in early 2008.[6] It became a weekly newspaper, rather than daily one starting from 2014.[7] According to the Lithuanian influencer and a former advisor to the Prime Minister of Lithuania Skirmantas Malinauskas who worked in the newspaper for a short time in the past, Respublika.lt falls out of the top 15 of the most readable Lithuanian portals as of 2022.[8]

Circulation of Lithuanian edition of Respublika reached 38,000 copies on Mondays–Thursdays and 55,000 copies on Fridays–Saturdays in 2005.[9] In March 2007 26-year-old Ramunė Vaičiulytė became Respublika's first female editor-in-chief.[10]

  1. ^ "Nuo aviatoriaus iki redaktoriaus". Respublika. 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  2. ^ "Lithuanian reporter is slain". The New York Times. 1993-10-13. Retrieved 2006-03-21.
  3. ^ Navazelskis, Ina. "Lithuania: a killing and a crusade". Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Archived from the original on 2006-02-03. Retrieved 2006-03-25.
  4. ^ "Amnesty International concerns in Europe May - December 1994". Amnesty International. Retrieved 2006-03-25.
  5. ^ "Lithuania", handsoffcain.info, accessed 2008-08-21.
  6. ^ ""TNS Gallup": "Respublikos" skaitomumas" (in Lithuanian). balsas.lt. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  7. ^ daily becomes weekly (Accessed 2022-03-31)
  8. ^ Putino šunys (in Lithuanian) Accessed 2022-03-31
  9. ^ "Stulbinanti dienraščio Respublika prenumeratos akcija" (in Lithuanian). vtv.lt. 2005-10-04. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  10. ^ ""Respublikos" redaktore tapo Ramunė Vaičiulytė" (in Lithuanian). vtv.lt. 2007-03-18. Retrieved 2009-02-06.