By the end of 1999, the newspaper had accumulated more than 5 million litas of debt and its daily circulation decreased to 7,000 copies. In May 2000, controversial businessman acquired the controlling share of the newspaper and became its editor. The newspaper caused a public scandal when some 50 openly anti-Semitic articles were published in fall 2000. "Lietuvos aidas" faced no real sanctions, but did soften its rhetoric. The scandal and other controversies alienated much of the readership: by September 2002, the circulation decreased to less than 5,000 copies and 2003 saw a 29.2% drop in subscriptions.