United Group has issued a strong denial of allegations that it is interfering with the editorial independence of its Serbian channels, N1 and Nova TV. The Luxembourg-based group, owned by international investment firm BC Partners, also categorically refutes reports suggesting it is considering a sale of the broadcasters to Telekom Srbija or entities connected to the Serbian state.
These denials follow reports last month by the Organised Crime and Reporting Project (OCCRP) and its Serbian partner KRIK. These reports detailed conversations between United Group CEO Stan Miller and Vladimir Lučić, CEO of state-owned Telekom Srbija and a close associate of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. One conversation reportedly involved discussions about removing Aleksandra Subotić as chief executive of United Media, the United Group subsidiary that owns N1.
United Group acknowledged in a statement that Telekom Srbija had raised some concerns about the conduct of Aleksandra Subotić. However, the statement emphasized that "he is not a member of any editorial team within United Group." The statement further declared: “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 for N1 and Nova are taken by the editorial teams, not by United Group executives, and there has been no interference by current management. This is clearly demonstrated by recent news reporting at N1 and Nova, which has continued in an entirely independent manner.”
The statement also clarified that the current management has never considered selling its news assets. Any previous discussions regarding the potential sale of N1 and Nova, the statement insists, occurred under the previous management. In June, United Group removed founder Dragan Šolak and CEO Victoriya Boklag from their positions.