REM opens proceedings against Informer and TV Prva, finds no basis against N1
REM opened formal action against Informer and TV Prva for alleged breaches in the election campaign; N1 was cleared.
The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) in Serbia has decided to open formal proceedings against the tabloid Informer and TV Prva for alleged violations during the election campaign, while finding no grounds to pursue a case against N1.
The decision to initiate action against Informer was adopted unanimously. REM said a representative of the outlet will be asked to respond at the next session after the regulator reviews the evidence submitted in the case.
REM President Stevica Smederevac instructed the authority's monitoring and analysis department to compare existing complaints against Informer with a 52‑page initiative filed by 32 organizations that details alleged breaches of the rules. The goal, he said, is to determine which allegations are already under review or have been decided on, and which require separate complaints and new procedures.
Internal oversight and personnel issues at REM and RTS
Members of the REM council asked for further internal information at the session. Council member Dubravka Valić‑Nedelković requested an official update on the employment status of REM spokesperson Olivera Zekić. Valić‑Nedelković and fellow council member Rodoljub Shabić also asked former REM director Rajka Galin‑Ćertić to attend the next meeting and explain the circumstances of her departure. Although her exit was officially framed as retirement, they sought clarification why the request came immediately after a verbal dispute with Informer’s editor‑in‑chief Dragan Vučićević and noted that Galin‑Ćertić had been eligible for pension three years earlier.
At the same session REM approved its institutional budget plan for 2027. President Smederevac said the next meeting could also include a proposal to announce a public call to select members of the Management Board of Radio‑Television of Serbia (RTS); the proposal received the support of Valić‑Nedelković and Shabić.
Developments at RTS have been rapid: general director Manja Grčić submitted her resignation yesterday. Acting editor of the news programme, Borivoje Uskoković, removed eight editors across correspondent desks, the regional newsroom, the programme "Oko", the website, the diaspora desk and the 19:30 central newscast. Prior to her resignation, Grčić had dismissed Bojana Mlađenović as chief editor of the news programme and proposed that Uskoković take over that role.
The Student list "Students win" sent an open letter two days ago to RTS management, the RTS Management Board, REM and the National Assembly, demanding accountability for safeguarding the public interest in information, resignations from RTS leadership and editorial staff, and independent, transparent operation of the media regulator.
On Monday, protesters entered the offices of the tabloid Informer and interrupted its programme, calling on owner and editor Dragan J. Vučićević to apologise to citizens and accusing the title of years of support for the policies of Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party. After several calls for intervention, special riot police arrived at the scene.
Photo: Printskrin
