Zelenovic Demands Dismissal of All Electronic Media Watchdog Members

Nebojsa Zelenovic (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

Party Together for Serbia leader Nebojsa Zelenovic on Nov. 19 demanded from the authorities to dismiss all members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) in the next few days and to appoint new members who, he said, would shortly with their personal credibility and commitment to freedom of speech be able to stabilize the media scene and relax the boiling atmosphere in the society.

He also said that “the media war into which President Aleksandar Vucic has been deeply engaged would benefit no one, at least the authorities,” adding he therefore demanded the war be stopped before it escalated into a crisis which would be out of control.

“In the past few days, the situation has been radicalized as Vucic has ordered extreme rightists and reporters and analysts who act by his instructions, to engage in a witch hunt and to publically threaten all free journalist, particularly those from TV N1, who have the courage to ask Vucic uncomfortable questions,” Zelenovic said in a written statement.

He further said that MEP Tanja Fajon had also been under media attacks after a meeting of European Parliament delegation and Vucic.

“Obviously, Fajon also asked Vucic uncomfortable questions and has become a target,” Zelenovic noted.

He added that the situation has escalated when Vucic deployed his media advisor Suzana Vasiljevic to a TV station with national frequency to make threats to anyone who thinks differently and to accuse TV N1 reporters for Vucic’s health condition.

“The entire Serbia is aware that Suzana Vasiljevic, following Vucic’s instructions, commands editorial policies of almost all media outlets in Serbia and conducts media campaigns against anyone whom Vucic identifies as his personal enemy, while now, she has also been putting targets on the opposing journalists’ back,” Zelenovic specified.

He warned that Serbia “is on the brink of a civil conflict” into which Vucic had been pushing the country.