
The Serbian Parliament on Thursday passed the two disputed media laws which would allow the state to resume ownership of media outlets despite pledges to the contrary.
The Law on Public Information and the Media and Law on Electronic Media were passed after a heated 3-day debate.
Media organizations, experts, international and local journalist organizations have spoken up against the articles of the law which allow the state-owned Telekom Serbia communications giant to own media outlets counter to the national Media Strategy and pledges by the authorities that the government at all levels would not be allowed to own media outlets. The Media Strategy says clearly that the state has to give up its ownership of the media.