Respublika is a Lithuanian newspaper, published since September 16, 1989. Since January 7, 1991 it has published a Russian language edition (Республика). 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. Lingys wrote about organized crime and published several revealing stories about "Vilnius Brigade" crimes. Boris Dekanidze was found guilty for this crime and sentenced to death. He became the last person to be executed in July 1995 before the death sentence was abolished.