Fake news from Serbia and Russia aims to damage Kosovo’s image, center of disinformation “Kosovo-Online”.

Russian and Serbian media propaganda in Kosovo aims to damage Kosovo’s sovereignty, block the integration of Kosovo Serbs and damage Kosovo’s image. In addition, it aims to discredit high-ranking figures and continuously maintain inter-ethnic tensions.

This was said at the conference “Serbian and Russian Media Propaganda in Kosovo” organized by the Institute for the Study of Hybrid Threats “Octopus”, while presenting research on the influence of Serbian and Russian media on the image of Kosovo.

The director of the “Octopus” Institute, Agim Musliu, during the presentation of the conducted analysis, mentioned media such as “Kosovo Online”, “Sputnik” and “RT”, which in his opinion have the greatest influence on the division of the Serbian and Albanian communities or even attacks on central institutions.

He emphasized that they have identified two hypotheses which are related to Russian propaganda to attack and bring disunity in Europe. Meanwhile, he pointed out that the other hypothesis proved that “Serbian propaganda always insists on showing that the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are dysfunctional”.

“Russian and Serbian influence in the Balkans extends mainly through the media and especially in Kosovo.” We have targeted some of them that are fully controlled and financed by the state, but also run by the state from a strategic and tactical point of view. The ones we have identified the most that are influencing the division of the Serbian and Albanian community or the attack on the central institutions are “Kosova Online”, “Russia Today” and “Sputnik”…”, Musliu said.

Meanwhile, senior researcher at Octopus, Taulant Elshani, said that the electronic medium “Kosovo Online” turns out to be a media center of systematic propaganda against the Republic of Kosovo, with the aim of harming Kosovo’s state interests.

Elshani emphasized that “Kosovo Online” posts daily fake news, articles with content that is highly offensive to Albanians and other communities. He added that this media fights against visa liberalism through various methods, adding that it contains articles about spreading fear, creating a climate without security and other issues to the detriment of Kosovo.

“KosovoOnline” publishes fake news every day, articles with highly offensive content towards Albanians and other communities, campaigns against visa liberalism … articles with content that incites fear, creates a climate of insecurity and promotes division in the political spectrum.” “Kosovo and an article from the evening of September 24, which was already widely regarded as fake news, tried to stir up hatred by presenting audio footage of Kosovo police allegedly refusing to help an injured Serb,” Elshani emphasized.

The authors of the study “Serbian and Russian Media Propaganda in Kosovo” highlighted one of the fake news stories published on “Kosovo Online” on the day of the terrorist attack on September 24.

According to them, this media presents audio material from Kosovo police that day and claims that it says “Even if dies, nothing””, which is presented as police negligence towards an injured Serb. They add that this Serbian media has no facts, pieces of audio footage or anything else to support its claim that a wounded Serb is neglected in this communication.

Octopus’ research “Serbian and Russian Media Propaganda in Kosovo” states that Russia uses the media to sponsor its power and footprints in the media sphere to achieve its goals related to glorifying, postponement and influencing destabilizing elements of its own policies.

/The Geopost