United Group denied what it said called inaccurate reports on its negotiations with the Serbian government directed against United Media which owns N1, Nova TV and several other independent media outlets in the country.
“United Group categorically denies the inaccurate reference to negotiations with the Serbian government to “weaken” United media,” a spokesperson told Nova TV in comments about the European Parliament debate on the situation in Serbia.
The Belgrade-based KRIK investigative portal and the OCCRP published an audio recording of a phone conversation between United Group CEO Stan Miller and his Telekom Serbia counterpart Vladimir Lucic, discussing the dismissal of the United Media CEO allegedly as discussed previously with the Serbia president. The draft resolution set to be adopted by the European Parliament references the conversation and its implications.
“United Group welcomes the European Parliament’s continued attention to the state of democracy, rule of law, and media freedom in Serbia and across the Western Balkans and supports the resolution on the polarization and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that “United Group has consistently championed the principles now reaffirmed by the European Parliament – in particular, the vital importance of an independent media sector, transparent governance, and open public discourse”. “As we have repeatedly stated, news independence is sacrosanct to the current management and the majority shareholder BC Partners, and will never be influenced by any political interference or considerations. Editorial choices of our news channels are taken by the editorial teams, not by United Group executives, and reporting at N1 and Nova continues in an entirely independent manner, as everyone can see,” the spokesperson said.
Source: N1
