Photo: x.com/javniskupovi
December 2024.
As part of the program Regional Initiative to Combat Disinformation “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: Exposing Malign Influences through Watchdog Journalism”, we present you a new monthly analyses of fake news and disinformation narratives.
New-old attacks on civil society and independent media in Serbia
The collapse of the canopy at the reconstructed Railway Station in Novi Sad on November 1, which resulted in 15 deaths, sparked months of protests by dissatisfied citizens demanding political and criminal accountability. By the end of November and early December, the protests gained new momentum as students from nearly all faculties at four state universities in Serbia declared blockades, supported by the academic community.
Student engagement encouraged various social groups and professions to join and support demands related to the full disclosure of documents regarding the canopy reconstruction, criminal prosecution of those responsible for the attacks on students and professors during protests and symbolic traffic blockages, and the dismissal of all charges against students detained during peaceful gatherings across the country. The student activities and specific demands, stemming from broader expectations for the free and responsible functioning of institutions and the fight against corruption, fueled civil protests and dissatisfaction, leading to the largest social movement in Serbia in decades.
In December, Serbian authorities continued their practice of discrediting the legitimate demands of the protests, speculating about foreign interference in the student (self)organization, and accusing civil society and independent media in Serbia. The regime’s recognizable tactic of attempting to create divisions, weaken, and delegitimize the protests was accompanied by aggressive reporting from pro-regime media targeting the civil sector, accusing it of financially and organizationally steering the protests, as well as independent media, reflecting pre-established anti-opposition and anti-Western narratives.
Attacks on Civil Society and Independent Media – How Pro-Regime Media Reported During December
Sensationalist and often misleading reporting on the financing of the non-governmental sector in Serbia has been a core element of various campaigns by pro-regime media against civil society in Serbia for years. Amid the current student-civilian protests, pro-regime media sought to link civil society in Serbia and their international donors to the alleged organization and funding of the protests, suggesting “foreign interference” in Serbia’s internal affairs and questioning the authenticity of student demands and the self-organization of citizen protests.
The most influential pro-government tabloid, Informer, was particularly active in promoting these narratives during December. An illustrative example is an article titled “We reveal the scheme by which Americans finance the Proclamation to cause chaos in Serbia,” which claims that “the American National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has decided to become the direct financier of the Proclamation… and will take over all control and direct all activities.” It further emphasizes how the goal is to “primarily use tragedies such as the canopy collapse in Novi Sad to attempt a violent change of government.”
A similar narrative is seen in Informer’s report about young activists who actively support and participate in the student-civilian protests, claiming that they are “directly paid from abroad to overthrow the state… (with) the main financier being the German state service.” The article continues with accusations that “NGO mercenaries are doing everything they can to undermine Serbia’s position… and are receiving huge sums from previous administrations in the U.S.,” and that the symbol of the protest – the bloody hand – was taken from protests in Albania, suggesting that “such symbols in several countries have only one subversive goal – the removal of the government.”
In a similar manner, other pro-government media outlets reported on the protests. The tabloid Alo claimed that “behind the student protests stands a dark NGO trio,” emphasizing that the protests were “orchestrated from behind the scenes by the leaders of various non-governmental organizations.” Alo further stated that “the leaders of these NGOs are financed with foreign money and are regular guests on anti-Serb media,” using a propagandistic tone and linking its story to earlier unverified and highly speculative claims by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić that “hundreds of millions of euros were invested in the destabilization of Serbia.” Repeating the already established narratives about the “overthrow of the state” and the “foreign funding of the civil sector,” which allegedly flowed into the current protests, Alo also accused without evidence that there is a system for “destabilizing Serbia funded through various NGOs… and (that among the students) there are those who are financed idiots, members of these NGOs, but also members of many youth organizations linked to political parties, who then lead a few dozen more useful idiots who manipulate people.”
Republika, a portal of the tabloid Srpski Telegraf, targeted the “collusion of NGOs and the opposition,” claiming that they “are financed from sources directly linked to Western governments and represent their interests.” The domestic arm of Russia’s state media – Russia Today – also joined in promoting discrediting narratives about the civil sector and speculations about their role in the protests. RT‘s interlocutors emphasized that “NGOs are the main leverage of any colored revolution, serving as a tool for conducting hybrid warfare against Serbia.”
Alongside the baseless and speculative accusations against the civil sector, representatives of the Serbian authorities continued to exert pressure on independent media, supported by an intensified campaign by pro-regime media targeting this area. In an opinion piece for Informer, a ruling SNS official, without any evidence, accused independent media of being “extremely nervous because they are losing the abuse of yet another tragedy – the canopy collapse in Novi Sad – which they are using for a new attempt to violently seize power… resorting to insults and death threats against President Aleksandar Vučić.”
Throughout December, Informer frequently “attacked” independent media outlets such as N1, Nova, and Danas, accusing them, without real grounds, of orchestrating a campaign against the Serbian government, primarily President Aleksandar Vučić. Claims that “anyone who promoted potential violence… received media space and support… several times escalating attacks on the president’s family,” and that “anti-Serb media are fueling an atmosphere… to create as much unrest and chaos as possible… which will bring the opposition to power” were commonly seen on the website of Serbia’s most-read pro-government tabloid.
Top state officials continuously targeted independent media, suggesting that “the only goal is to remove President Aleksandar Vučić from power.” Assembly President Ana Brnabić stated in Večernje Novosti, regarding the reporting of independent media on the student-citizen protests, that “no one can deny this is just another in a series of attacks on Aleksandar Vučić, aimed at destabilizing Serbia.” Alo published an article claiming “anti-Serb media continue attempting to overthrow their own country, following an already existing Croatian recipe… in their publication, they released precise instructions from Zagreb on how to destroy Serbia… anyone can see how far the hatred of anti-Serb media reaches, and that they will join forces with Croats to block everything in Serbia.” This article contained not only false information but also unacceptable claims and insults directed at other media, potentially endangering their security.
An opinion piece published in the pro-government daily Politika, written by a media advisor close to the ruling SNS, summarizes key elements of the repeated narratives against independent media, the opposition, and the civil sector in Serbia. Independent media are accused of “falsely criminalizing and demonizing Vučić and his regime… serving to spread every spin, every fabrication and setup… organizing and directing all protests built on scavenging.” The piece continues in an even more radical tone, claiming that “in the hysteria created by ‘falsely independent media,’ the threshold for action has been lowered to the extent that… political manipulation is taking place with students.” The final assessment, made without any argumentation or support, states that “the student blockades (promoted by independent media) are organized, led, and predominantly made up of political and NGO activists, who make up (only) less than 3% of the total number of students.” This article in Politika illustrates the main points of pressure and targeting of civil society, independent media, and the student community by the regime, pro-regime media experts, and media, which were in the primary focus during December.
The rhetoric of the highest state officials regarding the student-citizen protests drastically intensified in December, alongside increased pressure on independent media and civil society in Serbia. The atmosphere in which independent media and civil society operate has been further undermined, with discrediting and stigmatizing campaigns through pro-regime media escalating. These campaigns spread unfounded accusations and extreme claims without evidence, fitting into previously established narratives about the destabilization of the state and intentions to overthrow the government (on the streets).
Author: Igor Mirosavljević
