Glorifying Putin as a supporter of Islam – A wew wave of disinformation

The portrayal of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a supporter of Islam has emerged as a new disinformation narrative, circulating in dozens of posts in the Albanian language.

Fact-checkers in recent months have identified hundreds of online materials targeting Kosovo, often linked to Russian-backed sources. These narratives aim to present Russia as a powerful military force and Putin as a benevolent leader, while spreading false or misleading information about political and economic developments in Kosovo. Some of these materials are disseminated directly by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jeta Loshaj from the Kosovo Center for Security Studies (QKSS) stated that this activity is deliberate and seeks to influence public opinion in Kosovo.

“Russia’s approach to Kosovo requires deeper analysis and is not limited to disinformation or fake news. These operations are conducted not only through Russian media like Telegram, Sputnik, or Russia Today—which also have infrastructure in Serbia—but also through official statements by Russian political representatives, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Loshaj explained.

Years ago, Kosovo authorities prevented a planned terrorist attack in 2018 linked to ISIS, which aimed to target areas including Serbian-populated zones. Investigations revealed that funding for explosives originated from Russia, with the intent of fueling interethnic tensions in Kosovo.

Through disinformation campaigns, attempts to incite unrest and recruit young people to extremist groups have continued over the years. A Kosovo police investigator noted that spreading narratives around Islam is highly organized and designed to have a strong impact on the target audience.

Online content in Albanian, including AI-generated texts and videos, has portrayed Putin as a devout supporter of Islam, showing him reading the Quran or visiting mosques. According to the police investigator, these narratives aim to cast Russia and Putin in a positive light deliberately.

“This is deliberate. As a reaction to U.S. sanctions against some Muslim-majority countries, Russian circles have sought to promote specific interpretations of Islam, portraying Vladimir Putin as a powerful personality. Propaganda can be divided into three types: white (facts), black (disinformation/falsehoods), and grey, where true facts are misused to reinforce false narratives,” he explained.

Ekrem Avdiu from the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) emphasized that fake information is a serious concern for the Muslim community.

“In Islam, there are many references in the Quran highlighting the importance of verifying information. This responsibility applies to both religious leaders and society as a whole,” Avdiu said.

Rudinë Jakupi, a security expert, noted that religious disinformation has circulated in Kosovo for years, often reaching its peak during and prior to the Syrian conflict. These narratives combine fake news, conspiracy theories, and religious content to misrepresent Kosovo as unstable or anti-Islam.

“Disinformation has continuously been assessed as a serious threat to Kosovo’s national security,” Jakupi concluded.