Iš XX a. Lietuvos parlamentarizmo istorijos: deputato Virgilijaus Čepaičio byla ir Seimo nario Vytauto Petkevičiaus valdžios kritika laikraštyje "Opozicija"

LTPasirėmus gausia dokumentine medžiaga, straipsnio pirmoje dalyje išsamiai aptariama vieno iš Lietuvos persitvarkymo sąjūdžio (LPS) lyderių – Lietuvos Respublikos Aukščiausiosios Tarybos-Atkuriamojo Seimo (1990–1992) deputato Virgilijaus Čepaičio išskirtinio dėmesio visuomenėje sulaukusi byla, kurioje jis viešai buvo apkaltintas sąmoningai bendradarbiavęs su Sovietų Sąjungos specialiąja tarnyba – KGB. Antroje straipsnyje dalyje išskirtinis dėmesys skiriamas visuomenėje prieštaringai vertinamo buvusio LPS Iniciatyvinės grupės ir Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo nario (1992–1996) Vytauto Petkevičiaus išdėstytai viešai valdžios kritikai jo įkurtame laikraštyje Opozicija. Straipsnio pabaigoje pateikiamas aprašytos V. Čepaičio ir V. Petkevičiaus veiklos bendras įvertinimas. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos persitvarkymo sąjūdis (LPS); Lietuvos Respublikos Aukščiausioji Taryba (LR AT); Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas (LRS); Prezidentas; KGB; Agentas; Valdžia; Partija; Opozicija; Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sąjūdis) the; Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania the; Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; President; KGB; Agent; Authority; Political Party; Opozicija.

ENThe paper deals with the controversial case of Virgilijus Čepaitis, a member of the Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sąjūdis) and a deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania from 1990 to 1992. He was accused of cooperating with the KGB and the trial process was referred to as “the case of Comrade Juozas”. The paper also analyses the reasons and forms of the criticism targeted at the Lithuanian authorities by Vytautas Petkevičius, one of the leaders of the Sąjūdis and the deputy of the the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, in his newspaper Opozicija (Opposition). By analyzing the lawsuit of Čepaitis and the actions of the deputy Petkevičius the author of the paper seeks to make an assessment of their issues. The main goals of the paper are the following: (1) to reveal actions of Čepaitis after his case became public, (2) to clarify the relationships between Petkevičius and other members of Sąjūdis, and (3) to show the content of Petkevičius’s criticism of the Lithuanian authorities in his newspaper Opozicija. The analyses of both cases show that, firstly, Čepaitis collaborated with the KGB consciously. His strict denial of his ties with the Soviet security organization demonstrated his disrespect of his voters and diminished his authority among Lithuanians. It was the main reason why he was eliminated from Lithuanian political life. Secondly, tight criticism of his former colleagues from the Sąjūdis (without distinguishing Vytautas Landsbergis, the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania) voiced by Petkevičius reveals his frustration with the leaders of the Sąjūdis. The main reason for such an attitude was provoked by the unsuccessful competition with Landsbergis for the post of the leader of the Sąjūdis. Moreover, Petkevičius was displeased with his colleagues from the Lithuanian Democratic Labour Party and the political situation in Lithuania in general. [From the publication]