12. 02. 2004

ANEM: Unlawful Dismissals In Pirot

BELGRADE, February 12, 2004 – The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) wishes to protest the violation of the Broadcast Act in the appointment of the Management Board at the Pirot-based Informative Public Company “Sloboda”, an ANEM member, and the violation of the law in the dismissal of the editorial team at Radio and Television Pirot, of which “Sloboda” is the founder. ANEM notes that following the extraordinary local elections in Pirot, held on December 17 last year, the new Council dismissed the “Sloboda” Management Board and named a new board, which included representatives of the Socialist Party of Serbia, the Serbian Radical Party, the People's Justice Party and the People's Democratic Party. The new local authorities also named a new director, Svetlana Matic Metodijev, at whose recommendation the Management Board dismissed Radio Pirot editor Emilija Lilic and Television Pirot editor Dragica Pavlov Krstic. The dismissal of Emilija Lilic and Dragica Pavlov Krstic also goes against the regulations of the Employment Act, since it was carried out without explanation.