Progressives accuse public broadcaster

Progressives accuse public broadcaster

"The SNS is not complaining about anything, but we wish to inform citizens that the RTS, instead of being a public service of all citizens, serves as a daily ground for launching dirty attacks on SNS President Aleksandar Vučić."

The opposition Democrats (DS) then issued a statement of their own, saying that the accusations were "incredible", considering that for the past two years, the RTS audience "could only watch a promotion of the Serbian government, the SNS, and Vučić himself."

The DS added that the Progressives were "continuing their fight against imaginary enemies," and that they, despite achieving absolute power, "still wish to control the media."

Reacting to this, the SNS issued another release, saying that the DS, "in cooperation with some people employed by the RTS," was using the public service to attack Vučić and his party, while DS leader Dragan Đilas "could not refrain from commenting, as for years he has been known for exerting a direct influence on the media's editorial policy."

In separate releases, the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) voiced their concern over the SNS statement, saying that the party criticized the RTS's editorial policy without providing any concrete objections or examples.

The two associations assessed that the ruling party's move was "a classic example of pressure against the RTS and media freedoms, and intimidation of journalists."