Igor Akhremov.

Igor Akhremov, a member of the criminal gang Vilnius Brigade who killed journalist Vitas Lingys in 1994 was released on parole in April this year.

Vilnius Regional Court overturned the ruling of Vilnius Third District Court and upheld Akhremov's appeal. On 2 March Vilnius Third District Court had rejected the offer of Vilnius Correction House to release Akhremov on parole. The Court said that upon his release the principle of justice would not be achieved as he serves for three extremely dangerous activities.

While Vilnius Regional Court satisfied the appeal describing him as a friendly and polite person, known for good behaviour in prison. Akhremov was assigned to the lowest risk group. The ruling of Vilnius Regional Court is final, not subject to appeal and comes into force immediately. In 1994, Akhremov was convicted for murdering journalist Lingys of the daily Respublika on 12 October 1993.

Boris Dekanidze, the then leader of the criminal gang Vilnius Brigade, who ordered the murder, was sentenced to capital punishment. At first, the court sentenced Akhremov to life imprisonment, but later the Supreme Court reduced the sentence to 25 years of imprisonment. His term of punishment was to expire in autumn 2018.