Otašević: Mašković should explain whether he is hiding something from journalists, the Tax Administration and other authorities

The executive director of RTV Podgorica, Vladimir Otašević, said that he sent a message to Miloš Mašković, the member of the European Union in the Assembly of the Capital City, in which he "asked him to be more fair towards Gradska RTV".

"For the sake of fully and accurately informing the public, I must say that it is true that in a phone message sent a few months ago, I asked councilor Miloš Mašković to be more fair towards Gradska RTV. Mašković obviously does not know what the word fair means, because he associates it with my professionalism, and namely, when someone is told to be correct, it is the same as if you told him to be correct, accurate or truthful, which Mašković in all public addresses related to Gradska RTV has not been until now," said Otašević in response.

He adds that time will tell whether he managed to prove his claims or not.

He also said that he points to several facts behind which, as he suspects, the reason for the attack on Mašković, "who wholeheartedly criticizes the editorial staff and management of the local public broadcaster," is hidden.

"Namely, during the last month, the editorial office of Gradska RTV received information that Councilor Mašković is the co-founder of the non-governmental organization 'Center for Affirmation and Development of Youth' with one of the employees of RTV Podgorica in the position of journalist. It is an NGO that was previously financially supported by the services The same NGO proposed Mašković to the Capital City Youth Council in 2020. The editorial office of Gradska RTV allegedly said that continues to lead as a responsible person in that NGO, which allegedly did not comply with the legal obligation to submit financial statements to the Tax Administration for the previous year. Also, in the information obtained, alleged abuses related to volunteer certificates of that NGO were mentioned," said Otašević.

He also adds that this information should have been verified by journalists.

"Even if the announcements are correct, however, I doubt that Mašković somehow got the information that Gradska RTV was going to investigate his business, so he resorted to an attempt to discredit the editorial board and its management. Before councilor Mašković attacks the management of Gradska RTV for working 'as a secret' service' and hides information about the business, it would be good for him to explain whether he is hiding something from journalists, but also from the Tax Administration and other competent authorities," concluded Otašević.