Media watchdog files criminal complaint against Šabac mayor over controversial media funding

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) has filed a criminal complaint against the mayor of Šabac, Aleksandar Pajić. The complaint centers on the allocation of 6.6 million dinars to the media outlet macvatv.rs during a public tender. ANEM asserts that this portal lacks a legally required imprint, which includes basic information about the media outlet.

According to ANEM, macvatv.rs received the largest sum for its project "Sportska riznica Šapca" despite not having its imprint published at the time of the tender or when the decision on fund distribution was made. ANEM emphasizes that having a legally compliant imprint is a prerequisite for any publisher to be eligible for co-financing of content.

The complaint also targets unknown individuals within the Šabac City Administration. ANEM alleges these officials failed to notify the applicant, Infomačva DOO Šabac, about incomplete or imprecise documentation. They also did not reject the application via a formal decision, despite knowing it did not meet the legal requirements outlined in the Law on Public Information and Media and the Rulebook on Co-financing Projects for Public Interest in Public Information.

ANEM further points out that Šabac announced its media tender more than two months late, with the call for media published on May 8, a month after macvatv.rs was registered. The association also claims Infomačva is a subsidiary of Best Media Team, owned by the publishers of the tabloids Alo and Informer. This company reportedly began broadcasting TV Mačva illegally, despite the station not being officially registered or having an broadcasting permit, as the REM Council was non-functional for 20 months.