A sophisticated disinformation campaign involving AI-generated videos and manipulated imagery is flooding social media, falsely portraying Kosovo’s top political leaders as collaborators with Serbia.
The report, published on April 30, 2026, by Kallxo.com details how both government and opposition figures are being targeted with fabricated dialogues and “deepfake” technology. The surge in fake content coincides with the country’s recent failure to elect a president, which has triggered extraordinary parliamentary elections set for June 7, 2026.
Key Targets of Fabricated Content
1. Opposition Leaders: Bedri Hamza (PDK) and Lumir Abdixhiku (LDK)
Several viral videos on platforms like TikTok falsely claim that the leaders of the two largest opposition parties are taking orders from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
- The Fake Dialogue: One video uses edited audio to depict Vučić praising the leaders for “breaking the government,” to which they allegedly reply, “Your wish is granted, boss.”
- Fact Check: Fact-checking organization Krypometër confirmed these conversations are entirely fictitious. Officials from both PDK and LDK have formally denied the claims.
- The Radoičić Allegations: Another infographic claims PDK and LDK are being “blackmailed” by Milan Radoičić (the leader associated with the Banjska attack). No supporting evidence was provided for these claims.
2. Acting Prime Minister: Albin Kurti
Disinformation has also targeted the head of the current government, aiming to link him to Serbian interests through manipulated visual context.
- The “Lista Serbe” Visit: A photo circulated claiming Kurti visited the offices of Lista Serbe (the Belgrade-backed party) in Mitrovica.
- Fact Check: Using Google Lens, researchers found the original footage from Kosova News. Kurti was actually in Leposaviq visiting a supermarket and opening a bank branch; he simply walked past the party’s offices on a public street.
- The AI “Milošević” Deepfake: A disturbing video generated using the “Vidnoz” AI app superimposed Kurti’s face onto the image of the late Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević.
The Political Context: Why Now?
The timing of this disinformation “blitz” is not accidental. Kosovo is currently in a state of political flux following the failure of the Assembly to elect a new president within constitutional deadlines.
The Path to Snap Elections:
- Assembly Failure: Despite multiple sessions on April 27, 2026, parties failed to reach a consensus on a presidential candidate.
- Constitutional Requirement: According to Article 86 of the Constitution, if a president is not elected in three rounds of voting, the Assembly is dissolved.
- The Date: Acting President Albulena Haxhiu has officially set June 7, 2026, as the date for extraordinary elections.
Impact and Warning
Experts warn that the use of Artificial Intelligence to create “deepfakes” (like the Kurti-Milošević video) marks a dangerous escalation in regional information warfare. These videos are designed to incite emotional responses and erode public trust in democratic institutions during a sensitive election cycle.
Citizens are urged to:
- Verify information through credible news outlets.
- Be skeptical of high-emotion videos on TikTok and Viber.
- Look for “artifacts” in videos (blurry edges, unnatural lip movements) that indicate AI manipulation.
This investigation was supported by the British Embassy in Prishtina.
