The Digital Forensic Center published the study "Unbreakable ties or geopolitical strategy" in which, they say, the socio-political engagement of Vladimir Božović, former president of Matica Srpska in Montenegro, "founder of the unregistered propaganda portal IN4S" and current rector of the University of Montenegro, was shown.
"With the Overton window, we illustrated the degree of realization of ideas that were sublimated by the soft power vector strategy that Božović presented in 2015, that is, the concretization of the Russian-Serbian agenda of influence in Montenegro," DFC announced.
We transmit the announcement in its entirety:
"In 2015, Vladimir Božović identified the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) as a key vector for realizing the strategy of influence of Russia and Serbia in Montenegro. He substantiated the basis for such a claim by stating that Montenegro a country of Orthodox, pro-Russian and pan-Slavic spiritual essence drawing a parallel between Montenegro and Ukraine. In the process of expanding its influence, the Russian Orthodox Church (RPC) has the same task in Ukraine as the SPC in Montenegro. In Montenegro, the SPC relies on Orthodox brotherhoods and organizations that permanently divide Montenegrin society, organize anti-Western and anti-NATO protests and influence the division and radicalization of Montenegrin society during important socio-political events. The activities of the SPC go beyond the spiritual role of the church in society and are realized through a para-political agenda. The goals of that agenda are materialized through Božović's thesis about the substantive volume of Serbian and pro-Russian social consciousness, that is, about unification of Lithuanian political potential, so the SPC has a decisive influence on the political processes in the country. In the period 2015-2017, SPC participated in anti-NATO activities and was the main support of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian actors in the anti-Western agenda.
"Also, in addition to being an active participant in the SPC litia, Božović was engaged through the expert team of Zdravko Krivokapić, the list holder of the Coalition for the Future of Montenegro. The simultaneous action of protest litias and political actors in 2020, he called complex political-chess operationraid. In 2022, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution expressing concern over the attempts of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro to promote Russia as a protector of traditional family values and strengthen relations between the state and the church. In addition to significant influence on political and social trends, the SPC has been increasingly present in the field of education since 2020, building Orthodox schools with money from the state budget, organizing various educational and cultural events and advocating for the introduction of religious education into school programs. Despite the fact that the entire procedure of licensing and funding of two private religious schools of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro was violated, they received 900.000 euros from the budget by the decision of the Government in the technical mandate, headed by Dritan Abazović. In the period from 2021 to 2023, the Government of Montenegro, through the departments of culture, education and justice, allocated over two million euros to the SPC.
"In Božović's analysis of soft power vectors, culture and media play a significant role in changing the value paradigm, i.e. turning Montenegro towards anti-Western socio-political trends. Božović's theory of keeping Montenegro in the Serbian identity field, and thus also in the zone of Russian influence, through the strengthening of cultural and media institutions in the region corresponds with the formation of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian portals and media in Montenegro. Pro-Russian tabloids from the region and local media proxies play a key role in disinformation campaigns and profiling narratives that target Montenegrin citizens and polarize society. The portals IN4S, Borba, Alo, as well as the media Adria and Prva use narratives that are in line with the official policies of Belgrade and Moscow. Božović is the founder of the portal IN4S, which is part of the ecosystem of the Russian-Serbian propaganda network and, along with the portal Borba and Aloonline.me, is the main channel of hybrid activities in Montenegro.
"Today, out of five Montenegrin televisions, four are owned by capital from Serbia. Bearing in mind the size of the Montenegrin media market and the minimal possibility of financial profit, the role of these media is predominantly reflected in influencing public opinion through defining and marketing narratives close to the political agenda third parties.
"Strengthening cultural institutions with a Serbian prefix was one of the main tasks of the current rector's strategy. In 2017, the Government of Serbia invested 3,4 million euros for the construction of the Serbian House in Podgorica, and Vladimir Božović is one of the founders of that institution. The Serbian House serves as the seat of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian organizations for the promotion of Serbian nationalist politics, which is based on the negation of the civil character of the state.Organizations and associations Matica srpska, Institute for Serbian Culture, editorial office of the magazine Serbian South, Association of Writers of Montenegro, IN4S, Serbian Television, Serbian Novine, Serbian Radio, Serbian Literary Cooperative, Serbian Cultural Club Zavjet they are located in the Serbian House and were formed with the aim of hybrid action on the entire cultural and media space of Montenegro.
"The basis of Božović's analysis Russian soft power vectors in Montenegro - overview and perspectives, is based on the alleged change in the Serbian identity of Montenegro, that is deep eradication of the Serbian element in the tradition and historical being of the Orthodox people in Montenegro. He gives a recommendation according to which a well-designed activity in terms of the development of Serbian and Russian institutions in Montenegro to be an absolute guarantee that it will return to its original, historical spiritual flow.
"Socio-political tools for reckoning with the civil character of the state and returning to the Serbian-Russian sphere of influence became visible with the arrival of Serbian-Russian proxies in power in 2020. One of the first major moves of the Government of Zdravko Krivokapic was the illegal dismissal of 160 directors of public educational institutions in Montenegro. The funding of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature was cut off in 2021. The committee for the re-accreditation of that faculty was formed in 2024, and it is headed by Goran Danilović, who has a negative attitude towards the Montenegrin language.
"The negation of the Montenegrin identity and the civil organization of the state is achieved by Serbian proxies with a sophisticated strategy at the local level. While at the state level they nominally advocate for Montenegro's entry into the EU, pro-Russian proxy actors in local areas implement an agenda that is incompatible with EU integration. The volume of Russian-Serbian soft power was targeted by Pljevlja, where the coalition in power decided in September 2023 that, instead of November 20 (when the city was liberated from the occupiers in 1944), the Municipality Day would be celebrated on the Orthodox religious holiday of Holy Friday. On February 15, the municipality of Pljevlja celebrated the Statehood Day of Serbia in 2023. In the Cultural Center in Kotor, which bears the name of Nikola Đurković, a fighter of the National Liberation Movement who was killed by the Chetniks, a film glorifying the collaborationist Chetnik movement from the Second World War was shown Independence Day was celebrated in Budva with Serbian tricolors in public areas in 2021. The Serbian-Russian propaganda manifestation in Nikšić and direct donations from the Serbian budget to the municipal authorities in 2021 illustrate the comprehensiveness of the agenda of Serbian-Russian ethno-nationalist and right-wing entities in Montenegro.
"Božović's formulation yes is cultural conquest more fundamental because it directly affects the creation and development of historical awareness of belonging and identity it is literally reflected in the Montenegrin socio-political reality. The aforementioned processes are aimed at encouraging the emotional reaction of citizens and further deepening social polarization, as well as inciting ethnic tensions and fueling nationalism.
"The lack of reaction of politicized institutions and the limited possibilities of civil society enable Russian-Serbian influence operations to be carried out unhindered in the public space, while economic and integration topics that mask the real agenda of proxy actors are placed as the main narratives in the most influential media," said the DFC.
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