24. 07. 2012

EFJ calls for investigation into sale of Politika

Belgrade, July, 24, 2012 (Tanjug, B92) - The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has criticized "a total lack of transparency" in the sale of German WAZ Group's 50 percent stake in Politika.

This organization thus joined journalists' associations from Serbia and Germany in their criticism of the deal.

The EFJ stressed in their reaction that they supported a full investigation into the circumstances of the sale.

According to a release by the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), EFJ President Arne Konig said that the sale of WAZ' stake in Politika had been conducted in complete secrecy and in great haste.

The EFJ president added that it seemed that nobody in Russia knew anything about East Media Group, which became a co-owner of Politika.

Konig stressed that the EFJ supported Serbia's journalists' associations in their calls for a full investigation into the circumstances of the sale and into determining the identity of Politika's true owner.

According to the Serbian Government Anti-Corruption Council 2011 report, one of the main problems in Serbian media is ownership concentration and lack of transparency, the release says.

The East Media Group company, registered in Moscow, bought a 50 percent stake in Politika from WAZ Media Group last month, while it was first reported last week..