Pro-government media reported last night that a court expert, acting on the order of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade (VJT), determined that the recording of a conversation between Telekom Srbija CEO Vladimir Lucic and United Group executive Sten Miller was edited. The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (TOK) is also conducting an investigation, but the TOK is not looking into who provided the recording to journalists; instead, it is focusing on what can be heard on the recording.
Investigative journalists published parts of that conversation over the summer, in which Lučić says that the President of Serbia asked for the removal of one of the key figures of the United Media company, Aleksandra Subotic, as well as for the weakening of the company.
United Group did not dispute the authenticity of the conversation, but stated that the context was of a business nature.
What is new is that investigative actions are simultaneously being carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime as well, which is examining what can be heard on the recording. The KRIK journalist who published the conversation reiterates that the recording is authentic. “The fact that we are now seeing some confirmations from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office about some expert examination by some expert – we don’t even know who that is – is complete nonsense. The recording is one hundred percent authentic, United Group confirmed it. Neither Miller nor Lučić denied that they had the conversation; they defended themselves by saying they didn’t quite mean it that way, and then Nenad Stefanovic appeared to be more Catholic than the Pope and to defend those people from something they already admitted they did. It is bizarre for a prosecutor’s office to come out with information like this in such a manner. This only means that they have nothing and that their sole role is to defend Vučić, not to deal with the content. How can someone think that a prosecutor’s job is to defend political elites,” said Vesna Radojević of KRIK. She reminded that KRIK had already been intimidated with financial penalties and asked to hand over the original recording.
“We said that we protect our sources and that this is sacred for every journalist, then they threatened us – they said they would fine us – and then we referred them to the recording on YouTube and sent it to them,” the KRIK journalist said.
She hopes that the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime will do a better job, since they are also conducting an investigation.
“And in their official letter they explained that they need the recording and underlined that they are not asking for the source, but are dealing with the content of the conversation. I hope that the TOK will do a better job than the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and Stefanović, whose only motive is to defend the director of Telekom and Vučić,” Radojevic added.
VJT: On what legal grounds is the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime establishing its jurisdiction?
Regarding information that the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (TOK) is also conducting an investigation into the recording of the conversation between Lučić and Miller, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT) in Belgrade stated that, without commenting on the actions of the TOK and its case, it points out that it is unclear on the basis of which legal provisions the TOK is establishing its jurisdiction.
“Bearing in mind the provisions of the Law on the Organization and Jurisdiction of State Authorities in Combating Organized Crime, Corruption and Terrorism, we do not see with regard to which persons, which event, which actions, or the possible legal qualification of any criminal offense the TOK could have jurisdiction to act,” the statement by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT) also appealed to the public, as it stated, not to spread inaccurate and unverified information.
At the same time, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office reiterated that the findings and opinion of a permanent court expert are that the audio recording of the conversation between the director of Telekom Srbija and a United Group executive is not authentic, that is, not original.
As a reminder, the KRIK newsroom received a request from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to submit the audio recording of the conversation between Lučić and Miller, which the prosecution claims is needed in order to verify the allegations contained in the criminal complaint filed by United Group.
“You are required to submit the original or the ‘closest possible copy’ of the audio recording, or, if possible, the device used to record the conversation… all for the purpose of verifying its authenticity, as well as verifying the allegations from the criminal complaint,” the prosecution’s letter states, as reported by the Tanjug news agency.
KRIK editor-in-chief Stevan Dojčinović said that the content of the letter indicates that the prosecution is in fact seeking to uncover the journalistic source, that is, the person who provided the recording to the journalists.
KRIK published the recording of the conversation between Lučić and Miller on its YouTube channel in late August.
The recording features Lučić, a close associate of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, saying that Vučić had demanded the removal of Aleksandra Subotic, one of the key figures at United Media – the company that operates the media outlets N1, Nova S, Danas and Radar.
“I can’t fire Aleksandra today, as we discussed, all right? I have to make that company very small in Serbia, if you understand what I mean, and separate it,” Miller can be heard saying.
The conversation took place in mid-August, amid major changes in the ownership and management of United Group. In recent months, UG – which is controlled by the British private equity firm BC Partners – has sold several companies and broadcasting rights, with Telekom Srbija among the buyers. As previously reported by the Raskrikavanje portal, the state-owned company purchased NetTV Plus, a diaspora TV platform, and the broadcasting rights to Sport Klub for more than €650 million.
Neither Miller nor Lučić denied the authenticity of the recording or its content. United Group confirmed that the conversation took place and denied that Lučić or anyone else exerted pressure on them regarding Subotić’s employment.
However, the new director of United Group’s Serbian subsidiary, Vladica Tintor – who previously headed Serbia’s Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL) – filed a criminal complaint against unidentified individuals on October 2.
On the same day, prosecutor Aleksandar Milošević requested the recording from KRIK in order to “verify its authenticity.”
Source: N1
