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A recent BIRN documentary has uncovered extensive Russian and Serbian disinformation campaigns targeting Kosovo, prompting diplomats to warn about the growing threat of foreign interference in the region’s democratic processes.
The investigation, presented at the Reporting House on December 8, revealed that four Russian-controlled media outlets published 353 articles containing disinformation about Kosovo during the two months surrounding the country’s October 12, 2025, local elections.
Serbia-based Sputnik network led the campaign with 193 articles, followed by Russia Today Balkan with 125. The Russian propaganda network Pravda, known for disseminating disinformation across more than 80 countries in multiple languages, published 33 articles in Albanian about Kosovo, while Russian news agency TASS contributed four articles.
British Ambassador to Kosovo Jonathan Hargreaves described the findings as “deeply worrying” during the documentary’s launch event, emphasizing that Kosovo is not alone in facing such challenges.
“My first reaction was: ‘My God, this is alarming.’ There are serious attempts to undermine Kosovo’s institutions. The methods are sophisticated, and in today’s world it’s increasingly difficult to counter them,” Hargreaves stated.
The ambassador highlighted that the United Kingdom faces similar threats, citing a recent case where a former British member of the European Parliament received a ten-and-a-half-year prison sentence for accepting Russian bribes to spread disinformation in UK media. He added that such operations are “very likely with Putin’s direct knowledge.”
“What is happening in Kosovo is part of a huge global phenomenon. This is not new, other than in the means,” Hargreaves noted, suggesting that these disinformation tactics represent an evolution of long-established influence operations.
Nancy Soderberg, Ambassador and Kosovo Director for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), expressed surprise at Russia’s brazen approach to disinformation campaigns targeting the small Balkan nation.
“The Russians act openly. The Chinese are more discreet and sophisticated, but within just five months, Lavrov and other Russian officials mentioned Kosovo 32 times,” Soderberg revealed. “Half of all attacks on Kosovo originate from unidentified sources—almost certainly Russian.”
She urged media organizations to exercise greater diligence in verifying sources before publication, arguing that this simple step “would significantly reduce the spread of harmful narratives.”
BIRN Kosovo Director Jeta Xharra shared her astonishment at the volume of Russian media coverage focused on Kosovo during the election period.
“I was baffled and this was new to me—why is Kosovo so important for Russia? We are small, and I assumed it was irrelevant to them. Yet six news pieces a day were being produced about us,” she remarked.
Xharra also revealed the personal cost of BIRN’s investigative work, describing how her team faces retaliation after exposing disinformation networks. “The team doing those programs is occasionally attacked by the media outlets being exposed. We’ve had campaigns by religious extremist portals going after us after we spoke about their disinformation in our reports. It’s nasty behind the scenes,” she explained.
She proposed a broader strategic motivation behind Russia’s concentrated efforts: training artificial intelligence systems with biased data. “This is a theory, but in the end it comes down to influencing AI chat bots, as it uses them as a massive translation machine,” Xharra suggested.
Ambassador Hargreaves concluded with a stark warning about how foreign interference exploits domestic vulnerabilities. “Where there are internal divisions in society, external forces will find them, rip them apart and make them bigger,” he cautioned.
The documentary’s findings come at a crucial time for Kosovo as it navigates complex regional relationships and seeks to strengthen its democratic institutions against external influence campaigns. The revelations underscore the growing sophistication of information warfare and the challenges faced by smaller nations in safeguarding their political processes from foreign interference.
For Kosovo, a young democracy still working to consolidate its international standing, the threat of Russian disinformation presents an additional challenge in its ongoing efforts to build resilient institutions and maintain social cohesion in a complex geopolitical landscape.
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20 Comments
As someone following the geopolitics of the Western Balkans, I found the BIRN documentary to be a sobering and eye-opening account of the threats Kosovo faces from foreign disinformation.
This report underscores the need for robust fact-checking and media literacy initiatives to empower citizens to navigate the information landscape critically.
This is a sobering reminder of the threats that Kosovo’s young democracy faces from hostile foreign actors. I hope the authorities take strong action to counter these malicious influence operations.
I share your concerns. Strengthening digital literacy and media resilience will be essential to inoculate the public against such divisive propaganda tactics.
This is a timely and necessary investigation. The scale of the Russian and Serbian disinformation efforts targeting Kosovo is alarming and demands urgent attention from policymakers.
Agreed. It’s clear that Kosovo needs greater international support and cooperation to build resilience against these destabilizing influence operations.
This BIRN documentary provides a sobering wake-up call on the scale and sophistication of the disinformation threat facing Kosovo. It’s a stark reminder of the need for robust democratic safeguards.
You’re right, this investigation underscores the importance of international cooperation and shared best practices in countering cross-border disinformation campaigns.
The findings on the extent of Russian and Serbian disinformation are quite alarming. It’s disheartening to see democratic processes undermined through such coordinated propaganda efforts.
You’re right, it’s crucial that policymakers and civil society work together to strengthen resilience against foreign interference. Transparency and accountability will be key.
As someone interested in the geopolitics of the Balkans, I find this documentary very important. The scale of the disinformation campaign is quite staggering and concerning.
Absolutely, this report highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to address these cross-border disinformation threats. Robust media oversight is crucial.
This is a concerning report on the scale and sophistication of disinformation campaigns targeting Kosovo. It’s crucial that democratic institutions and the public remain vigilant against foreign interference in their processes.
I agree, disinformation is a serious threat to democratic discourse. Fact-checking and media literacy are vital tools to combat these manipulative tactics.
As a concerned citizen, I’m alarmed by the revelations in this BIRN documentary. The extent of the Russian and Serbian disinformation efforts targeting Kosovo’s democracy is deeply troubling.
I agree, this is a wake-up call for policymakers and civil society to work together in strengthening the resilience of Kosovo’s institutions against such malicious influence operations.
The findings on the coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Kosovo’s elections are deeply concerning. It’s clear that democratic institutions must remain vigilant against such malign foreign interference.
Absolutely. Strengthening cybersecurity, improving transparency, and enhancing public awareness will be crucial to safeguarding the integrity of Kosovo’s democratic processes.
As a journalist, I find the BIRN documentary’s revelations deeply troubling. Disinformation is a scourge that undermines public trust and erodes the integrity of democratic processes.
You make an important point. Journalists have a crucial role to play in exposing these malign influence campaigns and holding bad actors accountable.