“Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic is just waiting for a nod to raid this place as well. The first step now is clearly the raid on the United Group’s branch in Belgrade, and the intention is to further criminalize Dragan Solak and devalue your work, in other words, to portray you as some criminal organization working to overthrow the state and the people. Essentially, it’s a devious plan to somehow tame N1 and Nova S during these decisive months,” President of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) Zeljko Bodrozic told N1 regarding Monday’s raid by the Criminal Police Department on the offices of United Group RS d.o.o. in Belgrade, acting on orders from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The NUNS president said the initial plan was for independent media in Serbia to be shut down gradually, but that the authorities are now in a hurry because of the current situation in the country.
“The goal with N1 and Nova S is not to shut them down right away, but to gradually and subtly, much like B92, disguised by some (Brent) Sadler and others who will say – ‘we are journalists, we won’t suppress anything there.’ No, they will slowly dismantle you. Now, our ruler is in a hurry to get this done as soon as possible. This probably annoys his partners from United Group and BC Partners, because they promised him they would do it slowly, but he is impatient because the ground is falling out from underneath his feet, and he has to do something,” Bodrozic said.
He noted that November 1, the anniversary Novi Sad disaster, is a thorn in Vucic’s side because the two TV stations will report from the announced protests and their segments will create a buzz even ahead of the rallies themselves.
“He wants to prevent this in some way, that is, this is clearly an operation now to make you preoccupied with yourselves. All these actions, the spin that distracts you from your work, SLAPP suits, attacks – it’s all to make you preoccupied with yourselves and not with your job. And to instill fear, of course, because tomorrow Nenad Stefanovic will come here as well and say – ‘we have an order.’ By the time you prove that Solak is not a criminal and that you are doing your job, he will have already done what he intended,” Bodrozic told N1.
He explained that a few years ago, Vucic could tolerate dissenting voices in the media space because he had absolute power, enormous support, and a system that crushed all opponents of the regime.
“However, now there is such an enormous amount of lies and manipulation that needs to be poured into people’s heads that every dissenting voice is bothersome in these last eleven and a half months. They are in trouble, and every voice bothers them; that system of lies and manipulation is unsustainable, and many people have seen through it,” the NUNS president said.
The government intends to keep REM blocked and non-functional
“Regarding the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council, the government is reacting to pressure from the European Union, there is clearly a new round of pressure and the illusion that we, as a state, are fulfilling the conditions for EU accession. This includes, among other things, opening chapters and clusters, and that, in turn, includes finalizing the appointment of the REM Council,” Bodrozic explained.
He emphasized that the government’s true intention is to keep REM blocked.
“The government will try to trick EU partners and us into making it seem like a democratically open and inclusive process, but in fact, their intention is for REM to remain blocked and not do its job. In such a situation, when we see they are getting crazier, even if REM were to change, I don’t know who will force (editor-in-chief of tabloid Informer, Dragan J.) Vucicevic to pay REM’s fine. They are a state within a state, and they are untouchable,” Bodrozic said.
Source: N1
