Six international press freedom organizations have called on United Cloud to clarify its role in changes at Serbian news portal Nova.rs, including whether it has received or acted on instructions to restrict editors' access to the website.
In an open letter published Friday, the organizations acknowledged United Cloud's statement that it does not interfere in clients' editorial decisions, but said it failed to answer key questions about the editors' publishing access. They called for guarantees that the newsroom would retain control over publishing and urged Alpac Capital to engage with journalists' representatives.
The letter was signed by the European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited, the International Press Institute, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa and ARTICLE 19 Europe.
The dispute follows a change in management at Nova.rs after Portuguese investment company Alpac Capital acquired the media group. Journalists have raised concerns about possible interference in editorial independence during the changeover.