How Disinformation Fuels Ethno-Political Radicalization in Kosovo

Disinformation in Kosovo is fueling mistrust, stoking ethnic tensions, and undermining already fragile reconciliation efforts between Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs. This report, produced by the Kosovo Center for Security Studies (KCSS) as part of its DISRUPT (Disinformation, Radicalization, and the Resurgence of Political Tensions in Kosovo) project, examines the functioning of disinformation, its drivers, and the impact it has on interethnic relations.

In this report, ethno-political radicalization refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt increasingly rigid, hostile, or exclusionary attitudes toward members of another ethnic group, in relation to national identity. This process is marked by growing intolerance, a refusal to engage in dialogue or compromise, and in some cases, the justification of violence or division as a legitimate response. In the context of Kosovo, ethno-political radicalization is shaped by ongoing disputes with Serbia, competing narratives about the 1990s war, and everyday experiences of ethnic tensions and mistrust. It is not necessarily ideological in the traditional sense, but deeply emotional and identity-based. Disinformation accelerates this process by fueling fear, reinforcing the us-versus-them divide, and distorting facts to incite anger or foster a sense of victimization. This report treats ethno-political radicalization not only as a belief system, but as a social and communicative process, shaped and sustained by the narratives to which people are exposed, the platforms with which they engage, and the responses (or lack thereof) from institutions and civil society.

There is a considerable body of research highlighting Russia’s role in the creation and dissemination of disinformation in the Western Balkans and the EU, primarily through the state-run media outlets Sputnik and RT, which operate from Serbia. There is also research that shows that disinformation has an impact on interethnic relations in Kosovo. Critical journalistic research has also been conducted on how social media channels are used to amplify disinformation. What has been missing so far is a more comprehensive approach and verifiable data on how disinformation is taking place in Kosovo and how it can lead to ethno-political radicalization, especially at the community level, where trust is the hardest to build, but perhaps the easiest to destroy.

This report is our attempt to answer this question. It does not deal with generalizations. It shows how Telegram channels with tens of thousands of followers, such as BUNT, Bunker and Hodnik, coordinate to spread nationalist narratives, glorify violence, with tangible consequences in real life, such as facilitating the organization of barricades in northern Kosovo. The report also shows how Albanian-language media sometimes reflect these tensions by irresponsibly portraying Kosovo Serbs as permanent outsiders or threats. It reveals how ordinary people end up caught in the middle, unsure of what is truth and what is propaganda, and who to trust.

We do not claim that this report explains everything about ethno-political disinformation and radicalization in Kosovo. But it does reveal some patterns: the manipulation of real incidents, the use of emotional triggers to strengthen group identity, the weaponization of nostalgia and fear. It also shows how these narratives spread online across language, ethnicity, and geography. And, in particular, it shows how certain actors, from Telegram administrators linked to foreign actors to local clickbait media outlets, operate in parallel – even unintentionally – to fuel radicalization, polarization, and social fragmentation in Kosovo.

To get to the heart of this issue, we used a combined research methodology that included literature review, social media monitoring, interviews with key stakeholders, and investigative journalism. We reviewed dozens of articles, Telegram posts, and media accounts in Albanian and Serbian to track trends and key disinformation narratives. We focused on incidents that became turning points in interethnic relations in Kosovo, such as the terrorist attack in Banjska, and analyzed how they were presented, distorted, or manipulated. We conducted 10 in-depth interviews with local journalists, civil society actors, community leaders, and public officials. Two journalists, one Albanian-speaking and one Serbian-speaking, traced the digital footprint of disinformation narratives, following Telegram groups, distribution networks, and online mobilization efforts that spilled over into real life. Their work was essential in mapping not only the what, but also the how and who is behind these campaigns. The process has produced a picture of a disinformation ecosystem that is both coordinated and chaotic, local in scope but transnational in objectives.

This report is written to stimulate a public debate on the link between disinformation and ethno-political radicalization. It is also intended for policymakers, civil society, journalists and community workers who want to understand what they may be facing and what they can do about it.

📖 The report in Serbian is available here: Kako dezinformacije podstiču etno-političku radikalizaciju na Kosovu.