Russian propaganda: Serbia as the key to Moscow Influence in the Balkans

Russian propaganda: Serbia as the key to Moscow Influence in the Balkans

A current study by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation shows that Serbia has developed into a central training field for Russian propaganda. This comprehensive analysis shows how Serbian and Russia financed by Russia such as "Sputnik" and "RT-Balkan" not only shape the media landscapes in Serbia, but also in neighboring countries. Thomas Brey, the author of the study entitled "Russia-Pioneer of Autocrats", describes that Serbens President Aleksandar Vučić plays a key role in the spread of Kremlin-related narratives and strengthens the connection to autocratic governments in the region, among other things with the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the model for the breakdown of democratic structures applies. Another interesting development is the increasing influence of Slovakia by Robert Fico's authoritarian practices after taking office in autumn 2023, which is referred to by the study as a "learned student" of Orbán.

propaganda and autocratic axes

The study emphasizes that the Russian regime in the Balkans tested experimental propagandate techniques in order to destabilize Europe as a whole. In particular, the close relationships between Vučić and Putin and the role of Aleksandar Vulin, who propagates the ideological concept of the "Serbian World", play a crucial role in this. This approach, whereby Serbian citizens are to be connected to each other in adjacent countries, is reminiscent of the conflicts during the decay of Yugoslavia. In this context, the Hungarian government, on the other hand, has profiled itself as an aggressive investor and supporter of autocratic movements in the region, which the geopolitical situation continues to report, as [the press] reports.

In addition, the extensive investigation convinces that not only the media, but also the political structures in the affected countries are changed by the Russian influence. Politicians in Serbia are spreading an anti -Western narrative that is well received throughout the region. This dynamic requires a rethink because the authority and credibility of democratic institutions are very endangered. 【For more information about the methods of the improvement that the study suggests, see the complete analysis (OE24)】