The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has released an audio recording of a phone conversation between United Group (UG) CEO Stan Miller and Telekom Srbija CEO Vladimir Lucic, in which they also discussed the removal of Aleksandra Subotic, the chief executive of United Media, which owns N1, the Serbian TV channel that has documented nine months of anti-government protests.
The CEOs of Telekom Srbija and Netherlands-based United Group discussed strategies to weaken a broadcaster that has provided a platform for opposition voices amid mass protests against the Serbian government, according to a leaked audio recording.
OCCRP and KRIK reported this week on meetings between United Group CEO Stan Miller and Vladimir Lucic, CEO of state-owned Telekom Srbija and a close ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The report was based on interviews with a person familiar with internal discussions, as well as photographs and leaked internal correspondence.
In one conversation earlier this month, the two CEOs discussed plans to remove Aleksandra Subotic as chief executive of United Media, a subsidiary of United Group that owns several Serbian outlets, including the TV station N1.
In the recording, Miller can be heard saying, among other things: “Vlada, I don’t know who promised you what or whatever, but when I make a promise, I do it. I’m a person of my word. The problem is that I have too many things happening too fast in many ways, including the Serbia thing. I’ve got very little influence other than what we discussed when we met in Belgrade. I cannot fire Aleksandra today as we discussed, okay? I need to make that company very small in Serbia, if you understand what I mean, and separate it. The time for that, and that is what we agreed. We need to get the banks to move fast, etc. Now, I understand that the president called you and that he is very upset, and I can understand. But I need to find a way to do it fast, quick, quick. I don’t know what Nikos promised you or somebody promised you, but I will do everything to help you.”
A recording of that conversation, obtained by OCCRP and KRIK, is now publicly available.
Aleksandra Subotic has for years defended editorial independence
Subotic has for years defended editorial independence despite political pressure, which has intensified during the past nine months of protests against government corruption and authoritarianism.
Several pro-government media attacked the story published by OCCRP and KRIK this week, claiming the reporting was false.
However, the audio recording corroborates other evidence that the CEOs discussed ousting Subotic, both during that conversation and at an earlier in-person meeting in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade.
“I cannot fire Aleksandra today, as we discussed, okay? I need to make that company very small in Serbia, if you understand what I mean, and separate it,” Miller is heard telling Lucic.
“Vucic asked Nikos to replace Aleksandra Subotic”
Lucic told Miller that Vucic had already spoken about Subotic’s dismissal with Nikos Stathopoulos, chairman of BC Partners, the British private equity firm that owns the majority of United Group.
“President Vucic asked Nikos to replace only Aleksandra Subotic, not the directors of N1 and Nova, as he was aware that it is difficult now to change the director of N1,” said Lucic.
A spokesperson for the Serbian president, in a brief response to questions from KRIK and OCCRP before publication of the August 27 report, said that Vucic “did not interfere in the editorial policy of the media, nor was [he] interested in it.”
Stathopoulos did not respond to a request for comment. A law firm representing BC Partners requested a copy of the recording of the conversation between Lucic and Miller, but did not provide further comment.
BC Partners had previously told reporters in an emailed statement that United Group “has never been, and will never be, unduly influenced by political pressure in any country in which it invests or operates,” adding: “United Media has always and will continue to guarantee the independence of its editorial and news staff.”
Lucic did not respond to a request for comment about the audio recording. He told reporters earlier that the conversation was about “technical and compliance-related issues.” He added at the time: “We do not involve ourselves in staffing decisions at other companies.”
N1 is United Group’s most influential Serbia media outlet, recalled OCCRP, adding that it has also become a thorn in the side of Vucic’s administration. The channel has investigated corruption, interviewed activists, and livestreamed protests where demonstrators faced off against riot police and violent, pro-government thugs.
At the beginning of his recorded call with Lucic, Miller referred to the volatile situation, saying: “Serbia is exploding underneath our asses.”
Source: N1
