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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has strongly criticized Russia’s use of disinformation tactics aimed at destabilizing democracies in the Western Balkans. Speaking in Kosovo as part of her tour across the region, von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to counteracting these efforts, stressing, “We see that Russia is trying to spread its false narrative without success, and that it is possible for us to stand up with the truth, with transparency, and with very clear messaging.”
The Western Balkans—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia—are seen as vulnerable to Russian influence operations. In September, an investigation by journalists at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty exposed a Kremlin-backed network targeting the region with fabricated news articles, using content from Russian media outlets that are banned by the EU.
A recent report from Ukrainian researchers further highlighted that Russian propaganda attempts to hinder Western Balkan nations from integrating with the EU. Kremlin-linked operatives reportedly rely on Telegram channels to disseminate narratives aimed at sowing division and promoting anti-EU sentiment.
Kosovo, a notable target, faces particular challenges in countering disinformation due to limited sustainable funding, human resource constraints, ambiguous editorial guidelines, and external influences, according to the local investigative nonprofit BIRN. The risks associated with disinformation have become increasingly apparent in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the researchers stated.
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