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The court has found that Cooper is a public figure and thus should be more tolerant of criticism.

The court acknowledged that on 8 November 2013 the warning given to Respublika publishing company by Inspector of Journalist Ethics Zita Zamzickiene was ungrounded.

Vilnius Regional Administrative Court determined that Neil Cooper is a public figure as his activities affect public matters, thus "he should be more tolerant of stricter, more provocative and harsher criticism".

"Publications published by Respublika raised socially relevant issues, while Cooper being a public figure should have been more open to criticism. Therefore, the scrutinised statements did not encroach his honour and dignity," news agency ELTA was told by a spokesperson of Vilnius Regional Administrative Court Sigita Jacineviciene-Baltaduone.

Based on the decision made by the inspector of journalist ethics, in April 2014 the Ethics Commission for Journalists and Publishers (ZLEK) classified the daily Respublika as a producer of public information that violates ethics.