Russia and Serbia use different media and online platforms for hybrid campaigns that directly oppose the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Montenegro, according to the Digital Forensic Center (DFC).
"In the latest study of the Digital Forensic Center, entitled Unbreakable ties or geopolitical strategy: Serbia's influence in Montenegro, the media was identified as one of the channels for the spread of malignant influence. Russia and Serbia use different media and online platforms for hybrid campaigns that directly oppose the Euro-Atlantic commitment In addition to the media from Russia and Serbia, the malignant influence of those two countries is also manifested through media that are not originally Serbian or Russian, but support their agenda and use the same methods. Such media in Montenegro spread disinformation and fake news narratives that represent a more subtle, less noticeable form of manipulation. The action of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian media in Montenegro in synergy with political actors, activists, analysts and organizations of the same ideological profile is reflected in strong campaigns during important socio-political processes in Montenegro." in the announcement.
They point out that Montenegro has so far not had an adequate response to these challenges.
"Continuously, there is no institutional response, and at the same time malignant foreign influences are relativized from the highest state addresses. In the coming period, DFC will through its work analyze in detail the various mechanisms used by the EU, member states and Montenegro in the fight against misinformation and malignant foreign influences. Goal is the identification of best practices and the proposal of concrete measures that would contribute to strengthening the resistance of Montenegrin society to these threats," writes DFC.
They say that "the unregistered portal IN4S plays a key role in the promotion of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro, with newsrooms in Podgorica, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nikšić, North Mitrovica and Donbas". "The portal is not registered in Montenegro, and the editor-in-chief is Felix Savon, a Cuban boxer. The actual founder and editor-in-chief is Gojko Raičević, who is known for his pro-Russian views and activities against Montenegro's NATO integration," they add.
DFC states that IN4S is recognized for "spreading disinformation, hate speech and denial of Montenegrin identity". "It affirmatively reports on the policies of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war in Ukraine and war criminals, while denying the genocide in Srebrenica. IN4S often attacks national minorities and contributes to the polarization of Montenegrin society, with the support of local politicians and public companies, despite breaking the law , ethical standards and journalistic code".
In the report of the US State Department, they remind, it is marked as part of the Russian propaganda ecosystem.
"The founders of the portal, Gojko Raičević and Vladimir Božović, the current rector of the University of Montenegro, were in Moscow in 2017, and in 2023, Moldovan media wrote about Raičević's alleged connections with Russian intelligence structures in 2016. Those media, as Gojko's main collaborators Raičević is cited by Igor Damjanović, correspondent of IN4S and various Serbian and Russian editions, Vladimir Božović and Dražen Živković, founder of the Borba portal," adds DFC.
They also indicate that IN4S has intensified its activities since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, "and Igor Damjanović, the key man for the distribution of Russian propaganda, reports directly from the front and cooperates with Russian military structures."
"In the sections Our Serbia and Russian View, the IN4S portal places to a significant extent narratives that are part of Russian propaganda and often transmits information from Serbian and Russian media. This was also shown by the monitoring carried out by the Digital Forensic Center in the period from March 11 to 24 In 2024, during the two-week monitoring to meet the twenty-fifth anniversary of the NATO intervention in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), it was analyzed to what extent IN4S relies on Russian sources of information when marketing recognizable manipulative content that glorifies Russia and demonizes the West that the IN4S portal continuously transmits the statements of Russian officials (Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov, Dimitri Peskov, Maria Zakharova) as well as the announcements of certain ministries and authorities of the Russian Federation Novosti) or their branches in Serbia (Sputnik Srbija and RT Balkan). In addition to these media, there is also a common trend of transmitting announcements whose original source is one of the Telegram channels, which found their way to the IN4S portal via Russian media agencies and then media from Serbia," says DFC.
The seventh anniversary of Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, they add, was the occasion for the IN4S and Borba portals to "re-market the anti-NATO narrative that Montenegro was forced into a war and criminal alliance and that it became the only country in the world that joined NATO after because that alliance bombed her cities and killed her innocent citizens and children". By omitting the facts about the NATO intervention in the FRY and emotional manipulations, the DFC says, they are trying to influence the citizens of Montenegro and their perception of the NATO alliance.
"The activities of the IN4S portal were particularly expressed during important socio-political processes in Montenegro, as evidenced by its intensive propaganda campaigns during Montenegro's accession to NATO, the parliamentary elections in 2016 and the coup attempt, the population census in 2011 and 2023, the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion and Litigation, during numerous election processes, the formation of the government, and the voting for the Resolution on Srebrenica. such as NATO and the EU," writes the DFC.
In addition to IN4S, as they state, the Borba portal is also used for propaganda purposes, primarily to "encourage anti-Western sentiment and promote pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro." "The founder of the Borba portal is Dražen Živković, who is now the editor-in-chief of Prva TV. The Borba portal publishes narratives that the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro are discriminated against and threatened, and that Montenegro should strengthen ties with Serbia and Russia instead of Western partners. The portal provides daily support to pro-Serbian political entities, especially the parties of the former Democratic Front," DFC announced.
They also point out that the Borba portal "promotes the idea that Montenegro should become part of the Serbian world united with Serbia and Republika Srpska, denying Montenegrin identity and independence". "The columnists of that portal support Vladimir Putin and his military operation in Ukraine, oppose NATO, deny the genocide in Srebrenica and the existence of independent Kosovo, and promote convicted war criminals. At the same time, that portal reports in a negative context on individuals and groups who express a different opinion, trying to to discredit and intimidate them. With this way of reporting, the portal actively contributes to the creation of an atmosphere of censorship and fear, affecting freedom of expression and democratic dialogue in society," states DFC.
They assess that the portal uses bias in reporting on Serbia and the president of that country, Aleksandar Vučić, often downplaying the importance of Montenegro. "DFC has repeatedly pointed out the disinformation spread by the Borba portal. During 2019, Borba discredited Montenegrin institutions, especially the National Security Agency (ANB). During the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections, Borba spread unverified information about alleged election thefts. The portal takes content from the Russian propaganda media RT Balkan and Sputnik Serbia, sanctioned by the EU for the invasion of Ukraine, with which Montenegro agreed," the statement added.
DFC says that IN4S and Borba portals are key media platforms for "promoting pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro, spreading misinformation and narratives and manipulating public opinion in order to destabilize the political scene and polarize Montenegrin society."
"Both platforms are used to support political subjects and leaders who are advocating for the strengthening of Montenegrin ties with Serbia and Russia, while denying Montenegrin identity and pro-Western integration. Despite their obvious malignant influence, adequate reactions from the competent Montenegrin institutions are absent, which additionally enables these portals to continue with their propaganda activities, which may have long-term negative consequences for the political and social cohesion of Montenegro," states the DFC.
They also point out that, despite the fact that in May 2022, Montenegro joined the EU sanctions against Russia, and that the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) banned the broadcasting of Raš Today and Sputnik, "Russian propaganda and malignant narratives are still present in the information space".
"IN4S and Borba continuously take over and distribute news from those two Russian regime media. In this way, sanctions are circumvented and it enables the inflow of malignant influence from Russia. This is another indicator that Montenegro lacks adequate mechanisms to fight against misinformation and foreign interference." , concludes DFC.
Bonus video:
