During an appearance on Euronews Serbia, a channel operating within the Telekom Srbija system, the company’s CEO, Mr. Vladimir Lucic, made a series of false allegations and politically charged statements directed at United Group, United Media, and our employees.
Mr. Lucic accused our journalists of conducting campaigns against him and Telekom Srbija, engaging in unlawful activities, and fabricating the audio recording published by OCCRP, despite United Group’s public confirmation that the recording is authentic.
Even more concerning is Mr. Lucic’s open interference in the internal affairs of a private company. He commented on staffing decisions, internal organization, and, most disturbingly, the future editorial policy of United Media outlets. He also announced his intention to launch an “international campaign” portraying United Media outlets as instruments of “Russian propaganda,” while claiming that Telekom Srbija media are “pro-Western”, a framing that is politically motivated and inconsistent with the reality of the Serbian media landscape.
These statements raise critical and urgent questions:
- On what basis does the CEO of Telekom Srbija, a state-owned competitor and a close political associate of the President of Serbia, have information about future appointments and internal decisions in United Media?
- How is it possible that a direct competitor speaks publicly about the internal matters of United Group while UG’s own management remains silent?
- Does this public appearance confirm that cooperation between Telekom Srbija and United Group continues behind the scenes, despite the severe consequences it has on independent media in Serbia?
- Why are the legitimate questions raised by editors and journalists within United Group ignored by management, while information is evidently shared with a competing state-owned company?
- Unless Telekom Srbija has in fact taken over operational influence or decision-making within United Group, how is it possible that the CEO of a state competitor is the only one speaking publicly about matters that are the exclusive responsibility of BC Partners, a British investment fund and the legal owner of United Group?
For years, Telekom Srbija has engaged in a systematic campaign to undermine and eliminate United Media outlets. United Media published Telekom’s internal strategy document explicitly stating its goal: “shut down all United Media channels.”
In this context, Mr. Lucic’s appearance is not an isolated incident but a continuation of a long-term, state-backed effort to destabilize independent journalism in Serbia.
At a time when editors and news directors in four countries proposed the only viable solution for safeguarding independence, a management buyout, a competing state company publicly commented on our internal initiative while the official owners remain silent. This situation is unprecedented and deeply alarming.
If United Group remains committed to protecting professional and independent journalism, we expect:
– an immediate, public and unequivocal response to these attacks,
– clarification as to why a direct competitor appears to speak on behalf of United Group,
– and answers to the critical questions raised by our editorial teams about the future of these media outlets.
Silence from the ownership structure in this context is not neutral. It creates uncertainty, fuels justified suspicion and strengthens those who are openly working to eliminate independent media in Serbia.
Our journalists, our audiences, and the public in all countries where we operate deserve clear answers-now more than ever.
Source: N1
