Both the HND and the SNH do not believe that over the three years, the new owner and his aides could "lose" some 100 million kuna given that until 2008 Novi List used to make a profit of several millions every year.

When Jezic and his Dioki company acquired the Novi List, the newspaper had some HRK 40 million on its account which is why "we have reason to suspect that the money has been syphoned from the paper, and the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor (DORH) should investigate those money flows," the two associations said in the request they sent to the DORH.

The two associations said they possessed clear indications that in the spring of 2008, Jezic purchased Novi List at the urging of the then Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who was perceived as Jezic's friend, so that Jezic could gain control over journalists who were outspoken critics of the government.

The two organisations also recalled that Novi List had been perceived as a very respectable newspaper over the last 20 years and that it would be "immeasurable damage" if it ceased to be a distinguished paper.

They also recall that Zagrebacka Banka put Novi List on sale last Saturday with the starting price for buying 80.32 per cent of shares in the daily being HRK 86 million.

The bank has activated its lien as the creditor of Dioki to reclaim the money it is owed by this petrochemical company, which has a 80.32 per cent stake in the newspaper.

The HND and the SNH hope that this time Novi List would be sold to a new owner who will be interested in media and journalism.

They said they would inform the European and international umbrella journalists' organisations about the developments surrounding this daily newspaper.