Several pro-Vučić media outlets in Serbia have been accused of spreading disinformation, using the names of professors from the illegal University of Mitrovica to push a propaganda narrative about Kosovo. These outlets falsely reported that several professors had withdrawn their support for protests in Serbia, citing fabricated statements and quotes.
One of the professors whose name was misused is Svetomir Milojević, a faculty member at the University of Mitrovica. According to the fabricated reports, Milojević allegedly retracted his support for a petition backing the ongoing student protests in Serbia. The media outlets, including Alo and Novosti, which are known to be controlled by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, claimed that these professors had been deceived into signing the petition, and later withdrew their signatures.
However, Milojević himself immediately rejected these false claims, stating that he had never made such statements. In a statement to Kossev, the professor emphasized that the reports in the Serbian media were entirely fabricated.
“I have never made any statement about withdrawing my support, nor have I communicated with any media about this issue. Everything that was published in ‘Alo’ and ‘Novosti’ is a lie. I stand by my public support for the students and colleagues at state universities in Serbia,” said Milojević.
The professor further confirmed that he had no intention of retracting his support for the student protests and youth movements in Serbia. He also announced plans to file a lawsuit against the two media outlets for defamation.
“I did not withdraw my signature, and I will not withdraw my support for youth, knowledge, and the future. I will be filing lawsuits against ‘Alo’ and ‘Novosti’ for spreading these lies,” Milojević added.
This incident highlights the ongoing use of disinformation campaigns by pro-government media in Serbia to undermine support for protests and shape public opinion on key political matters. The Serbian government’s influence over major media outlets has been a recurring issue, with these outlets often accused of manipulating facts to serve political agendas.
The incident has sparked outrage among Kosovo’s Serb community, with many condemning the spread of fake news and calling for greater accountability from the media. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how it will affect both the ongoing student protests in Serbia and the broader political landscape in the region.
