Russian state-supported media, including RT Balkans and Sputnik Serbia, have been actively publishing misleading narratives during Kosovo’s pre-election period. From January 11 to February 9, these outlets released around 60 articles, some containing manipulative rhetoric aimed at the Serbian community in Kosovo, as noted by the EU Election Observation Mission.
Narrative Manipulation and Misinformation
Many articles framed Kosovo’s government as oppressing the Serbian community. Headlines such as “Prishtina miscalculated – not even Molotov cocktails will scare the Serbs” suggest a deliberate attempt to instill fear and deepen ethnic divisions.
One Sputnik Serbia article from January 28 falsely implied that Kosovo authorities were using Molotov cocktails to intimidate Kosovo Serbs. The piece ignored key facts, such as Kosovo police investigating the incident and other political groups also being targeted.
Similarly, an RT Balkans article published on January 30 alleged that Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, used the Kosovo Security Forces to intimidate Serbs, while falsely suggesting that Kosovo’s policy has always aimed at expelling Serbs. The article also referenced long-debunked claims of organ trafficking by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) without presenting any evidence.
Favoritism Toward Lista Srpska
Sputnik Serbia and RT Balkans heavily promoted Lista Srpska, portraying it as the only legitimate representative of Serbs in Kosovo while ignoring other Serbian political parties. Articles with headlines like “Serbian List: We represent the interests of the Serbian people, that’s why we worry Kurti” reinforced this one-sided narrative.
These reports also omitted critical details, such as Lista Srpska’s ongoing parliamentary boycott, which led to increased tensions in northern Kosovo and indirectly contributed to violent incidents, including the armed attack in Banjska in September 2023.
The Kremlin’s Influence Strategy
Ivana Stradner, an expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains that Russia benefits from instability in the Balkans, using chaos as leverage in negotiations with the West. Instead of direct military intervention, Russia destabilizes the region through information warfare and disinformation campaigns.
Conclusion
By manipulating public perception and amplifying divisive narratives, Russian state media seeks to influence political dynamics in Kosovo. The lack of balanced reporting and factual accuracy in RT Balkans and Sputnik Serbia raises concerns about their role in shaping regional instability. Kosovo authorities have yet to respond to EU concerns over these manipulative media efforts.
