The Council of Radio and Television Podgorica (Gradska TV) did not discuss the Report of the State Audit Institution (SAI), so the discussion on the qualified opinion on the Annual Financial Report and the negative stance on the regularity of the local public broadcaster's operations will wait for the next session.
They also ignored the request of the Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG), so executive director Vladimir Otašević will remain in that position.
SMCG asked the City Television Council to dismiss Otašević because, as they claim, he "continually operates illegally."
"He himself admitted that he did not submit remittances last year due to temporary inability to work. He does not have a decision according to which he makes monthly payments to the RTV Podgorica union, but rather requests it subsequently from the president of the RTV Podgorica union organization, Milan Nikčević, a father of three children, whom he previously expelled from his job after continuous persecution," SMCG previously announced.
During the session, it was said that City Television Executive Director Vladimir Otašević did not sign any of Nikčević's invoices for refunds. He also said that Nikčević had "no authorization to refuel his private vehicle at the employer's expense."
"None of the administration employees confirmed Nikćević's words that he had an agreement with me... The leaders of SMCG - Marijana Camović Velicković and Radomir Kracković claim that I signed and paid the invoices."
Council President Vesna Radulović said that based on the evidence provided, it is clear that Otašević did not violate the law.
Deputy editor Nemanja Lacman said he did not receive invoices to sign.
"I didn't even know that any of my colleagues had an agreement with Mr. Otašević. I'm only talking about the two months when he was away," Lacman said.
Džudović: Urgent action should be taken based on the DRI report
The Council, however, adopted the Report on the work of the City Television for the past year.
City TV Council member Tatjana Džudović said that the issue of the DRI report was urgent, and that it "should have been dealt with promptly."
"Although a short deadline was provided, I analyzed the entire report, especially considering that the SAI gave a deadline of one month for submitting the plan," Džudović stated.
During the discussion on the Report on the work of the local public broadcaster, Džudović noted that "other costs were planned at 30.000, so they came to almost 60.000 euros."
She asked why they were exceeded so much, as well as how the union's membership fees amounted to 7.200 euros.
The Head of the Finance Department of Gradska TV, Nemanja Vešović, replied that this was an annual amount, which amounted to six euros per month.
Džudović said that "anyone who takes the report would wonder why the union's membership fee is so high."
"At least there must be an explanation. Any union member can take this and say that the membership fee is shown as an expense. On what basis is the union paying such a large amount?"
Vešović said that this was a request from the president of the RTV "Podgorica" Trade Union in 2023.
Džudović noted that 280 contracts are concluded annually on various grounds, which, as she said, is a huge number.
She requested that information be prepared on the type, basis and amount of the contract, "so that the members of the Council would not be confused."
Executive Director of City Television Vladimir Otašević said that "this is the first report on the work of City Television since its founding."
The minutes of the previous two sessions were adopted.
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