Tomislav Marcinko, former editor of the HTV News Department and currently director of the HTV-owned Orfej music recording company, said in an interview with Vecernji List on Saturday that he was in possession of a document containing the names of HTV employees who had worked for the Yugoslav Counter-Intelligence Service (KOS) and State Security Service (SDB) up until 1990 and that he was prepared to make it public in order to stop accusations against him that he persecuted ethnic Serb journalists at HTV in 1991.
"We are appalled by lies, half-truths and insults from Tomislav Marcinko," the Executive Board of HTV Reporters at the HND said in a statement, adding that the interview had set off "an avalanche of comments and new interviews" challenging the credibility of the national broadcaster.
The HTV reporters said they were angered by renewed discrimination against their colleagues on ethnic grounds, and that they were confident that it was "a continuation of a well-planned and coordinated attack" on HTV.
The statement urged the HTV Board of Governors to take action against Marcinko and called on the HND to condemn the editorial policy of Vecernji List as unprofessional and unethical.
Later in the day, the HTV Board announced an investigation into the case and said that charges would be brought against Vecernji List for incorrect and offensive reporting on HTV and causing damage to its image.