After Vučić's defeat, RTS replaces eight editors as REM reviews Informer

On 29 October 2026, Serbia's public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) replaced eight newsroom editors as regulatory and prosecutorial bodies opened separate reviews of the private station Informer and a range of criminal files, developments that follow the electoral defeat of Aleksandar Vučić's bloc.

RTS said the acting editor-in-chief of the News Programme, Borivoje Uskoković, removed the editors of the central newscast — Milica Nedić, Dušan Ubović and Ruža Jeremić Turudić — and also changed heads of correspondents, regional desks, the programme "Oko", the broadcaster's website and the diaspora section.

Leadership changes and a recent resignation

The dismissals came one day after RTS general director Manja Grčić resigned on 28 October 2026. Grčić had earlier dismissed the chief editor of the News Programme, Bojana Mlađenović. Commenting on her resignation, Grčić said: "I made the decision after careful consideration of the circumstances in which the public broadcaster currently operates, believing that it is in the institution's interest to enable the continuation of its work."

Student List, which had publicly demanded resignations from RTS management and newsroom leaders, criticised the broadcaster for selective reporting and loss of public trust. Milena Božović Manić, a Student List representative, said: "Those who lead institutions must be the first to take responsibility for their work, actions and omissions."

Separately, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) agreed on 29 October 2026 to first compare previously filed complaints against Informer with a new initiative seeking to withdraw the station's licence, before deciding whether to launch a formal procedure. The initiative was filed by the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation and 32 signatories from media groups, civil organisations and academia; REM staff say they identified 11 violations of the law by Informer in October, including two serious breaches of election rules, although no final decision to revoke the licence has been taken.

Stevica Smederevac, president of the REM council, warned that any sanction must follow the legal procedure, noting that otherwise an Administrative Court could annul the measure. He said: "I will only insist that the legal procedure is respected, exactly as the law prescribes."

Informer editor Dragan J. Vučićević rejected the calls for licence withdrawal and described the action as a political attempt to silence the outlet. On 27 October he said: "Fine, you won; we are now in opposition — allow us to be the opposition."

Questions about public advertising spending on Informer also resurfaced: the local investigative site Jugpres reported that the city of Leskovac signed an advertising contract on 1 June 2026 worth nearly 2.44 million Serbian dinars including tax, according to entries in the Public Procurement Portal; the published contract value does not prove that the full amount was paid.

At the same time, the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office launched oversight of prosecutorial files. On 28 October 2026 Supreme Public Prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac issued a binding instruction ordering prosecutor's offices to give a five-member commission access to requested cases. The review covers proceedings related to crimes against life and body, electoral rights, economic crime, constitutional order and state security. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade confirmed access was provided and noted this is the fourth such oversight in the past two years.

Although the newsroom changes, the REM initiative and prosecutorial reviews all unfolded immediately after the election upset, available information so far does not confirm they are parts of a single, coordinated campaign.

Photo: press material from the event