Respublika (Lithuanian newspaper)
| Company type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Publishing |
| Founded | September 16, 1989 |
| Headquarters | Vilnius , Lithuania |
| Products | Newspapers (Lithuanian and Russian editions) |
Respublika () is a Lithuanian newspaper with a right-wing orientation, first issued on September 16, 1989. A Russian language version (Республика) has been available since January 7, 1991.
In 1993, Vitas Lingys, who co-founded the paper and served as deputy editor-in-chief, was assassinated in Vilnius after facing death threats. Lingys was an investigative journalist known for his coverage of organized crime and the "Vilnius Brigade." Boris Dekanidze, the leader of this group, was found guilty and executed in 1995, marking Lithuania's final use of the death penalty before its abolition.
Early in 2008, data from TNS Gallup indicated that Respublika’s publishing group led the Lithuanian press market. Its portfolio included daily newspapers such as Respublika (both Lithuanian and Russian editions), Vakaro žinios, Šiaulių kraštas, and Vakarų ekspresas, collectively reaching 79.2% of newspaper readers nationwide. Since 2014, Respublika shifted from daily to weekly circulation. By 2022, its website Respublika.lt no longer ranked among Lithuania’s top 15 most visited news platforms.
In 2005, the Lithuanian edition had a circulation of 38,000 copies on weekdays (Monday–Thursday) and increased to 55,000 on Fridays and Saturdays. Ramunė Vaičiulytė became the first female editor-in-chief of Respublika in March 2007.
Content
A controversial article published in 2006 accused former Israeli general and Soviet partisan Yitzhak Arad of being a "war criminal" due to his purported involvement in the Koniuchy massacre. This led to an investigation by Lithuanian state prosecutors, which was ultimately discontinued in 2008 following international criticism.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the newspaper disseminated misleading information regarding Covid vaccines, including assertions that vaccines resulted in more deaths in Israel than COVID-19 itself. These claims referenced an institute associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Between 2021 and 2022, Respublika openly endorsed the nationalist Great Family Defence March, opposing measures such as ratifying the Istanbul Convention, advancing LGBT rights, and implementing vaccine passports.
The publication also attracted attention for its critical stance toward Lithuania’s support for Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, expressing views sympathetic to the Russian government. As a consequence, prominent Lithuanian retailers like Rimi Baltic and Iki, along with the Lithuanian Post, stopped distributing Respublika and its tabloid counterpart Vakaro žinios.