Telekom Srbija announced that it rejects allegations of non-transparent behavior in connection with international activities and engagement of consultants in the USA.
“Telekom Srbija categorically rejects insinuations of non-transparent or unlawful conduct in connection with its international activities and the engagement of professional advisers,” it was stated in the press release.
As a company operating across 16 regional and international markets, Telekom Srbija continuously develops partnerships with global technology companies, international institutions, financial organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
It is therefore important to note that, over the past year, the company has been engaged in an open dialogue with a wide range of US technology companies on cooperation in artificial intelligence and the application of new technologies, as has also been publicly discussed. These discussions form part of a long-term strategy focused on technological development, innovation and building connections with leading players in the US and global technology sectors.
It is therefore absolutely clear, and factually accurate, that Telekom Srbija neither financed nor organised the trips by US political advisers to Republika Srpska that have been reported in recent days, nor was it involved in them in any way. This applies to all companies within the Telekom Srbija Group, including m in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Such allegations, which rely on unnamed sources, are false, and Telekom Srbija categorically rejects them.
Everything else being presented to the public as a “revelation” — the company’s ownership structure, its partnership with US media company Newsmax, and its engagement of advisers in the United States — has been publicly available for years and is documented in official records.
Telekom Srbija is a joint-stock company with a publicly disclosed ownership structure.
It operates on market principles, publishes audited financial statements and is subject to due diligence by international investors and creditors. These include investors who, in May 2026, invested €1.95 billion in the company’s bonds amid record demand. Both of the company’s bond issuances, in 2024 and 2026, were led by leading global banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas.
As part of its global expansion strategy, Telekom Srbija has successfully established and continues to build relationships with leading international companies and institutions, including telecommunications company Vodafone, its strategic partner; media brands Euronews, Bloomberg Adria and Newsmax; and financial institutions such as Bank of America, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Each of these partners conducted its own due diligence beforehand, as is standard practice in international business.
As for the partnership with US-based Newsmax, Newsmax Balkans broadcasts under a licensing agreement concluded between Newsmax Media, Inc. and Telekom Srbija, which was publicly announced in April 2023. This follows the same model under which
Telekom Srbija has worked with brands such as Euronews and Bloomberg for years: the partner licenses its brand and content, while Telekom Srbija provides the infrastructure, distribution and local market expertise.
The partnership with Newsmax has since evolved into a joint European project.
Newsmax Polska began broadcasting on 4 July 2026, while channels for Italy, Germany and Romania are in preparation, with launches planned for late 2026 and early 2027. This partnership demonstrates Telekom Srbija’s commitment to transparent and professional business practices, as well as the confidence US companies place in
Telekom Srbija as a trusted partner for developing and expanding their operations in
the European market. Such cooperation also makes a tangible contribution to strengthening business and technological ties between the United States and Europe.
The engagement of advisers in the United States supports specific business projects pursued by the company in that market. These include financing for the development of a 5G network using equipment supplied by US manufacturers, with financing jointly provided by EXIM and Bank of America and final approval granted in May 2026, as well as the launch of the MTEL USA operator, which is scheduled to commence operations on 1 December 2026.
All such engagements are registered in accordance with US lobbying regulations and are fully accessible through public records maintained by the US Congress — precisely because they are conducted transparently. The engagement of Continental Strategy relates exclusively to Telekom Srbija’s business activities in the United States and has no connection whatsoever with the Government of Republika Srpska or any other client of the firm. Telekom Srbija does not finance or participate in activities undertaken on behalf of its advisers’ other clients. Nor does engaging a particular adviser imply support for any of that adviser’s other clients or for activities outside the scope of the contract with our company.
Our business decisions are guided by legitimate commercial objectives and applicable laws and regulations. Telekom Srbija will continue to develop its international presence in compliance with the laws of the countries in which it operates, build partnerships that create value for customers, employees and shareholders, and keep the public openly informed of its activities.
