Watchdog: RTS Management Changes Internal Rules

RTS (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)

Instead of rectifying the irregularities uncovered by the State Audit Institution, the management of Serbian Radio and Television (RTS) has changed the stations' internal rules and "harmonized them" with illegal practices, the Pistaljka (Whistle) website reported on Feb. 13.

"As the prosecutor's office's investigation into abuses in RTS enters its third year, without having moved from the starting point, the management of the public broadcaster has evidently understood this as a 'green light' to continue their illegal business practices hence it recently changed the stations' Rulebook on the closer regulation of public procurement procedures so that it does not conflict with their illegal business dealings," Pistaljka said.

Now the station's business dealings and rulebook are at odds with the Law on Public Procurements, the website said. It added that the new rulebook, through which the management had decided to "legalize" its illegal business dealings, was adopted by the company's managing board, as, according to board chairman Branislav Klanscek, it was told that the changes were meant to align with the law.

RTS's management adopted the new rulebook in December last year despite the State Audit Institution's recommendations and the basic tenets of the Law on Public procurements. The website said that according to the new rulebook RTS was no longer obliged to respect the basic tenets of the Law on Public Procurements such as ensuring competition, transparency or proportionality.