Milorad Dodik, 2016 Photo: Medija centar Beograd, Wikimedia Commons
July 2025.
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.
Political instrumentalization of Srebrenica – Disinformation and Dodik’s role in Serbian media
Every year at the beginning of July, Serbian pro-government media are filled with headlines and reports concerning a highly controversial issue – the genocide in Srebrenica. This year, on July 11, it marked exactly 30 years since the event, and it seems that media coverage of this topic has become increasingly prominent over time. Media close to the government thrive on reviving history, which they later use as a tool to manipulate the public.
Last year, in June and July 2024, the political context was particularly tense. The Government of Serbia and Republika Srpska adopted a draft Declaration on the Protection of the National and Political Rights of the Serbian People at the All-Serb Assembly “One People, One Assembly – Serbia and Republika Srpska.” This event served as a pretext for intensive promotion of anti-Western and nationalist narratives in the media, especially during the local election campaign in Serbia. At the time, the phrase “We are not a genocidal nation” was widely used in public discourse, becoming a symbol of resistance to Western pressure.
The situation in 2025, although still centered on the same topics, shows a further intensification of rhetoric. The commemoration of 30 years since Srebrenica has been used to reinforce established narratives about the endangerment of the Serbian people and opposition to the West. President Aleksandar Vučić, in his public statements, again emphasizes that Serbia suffers injustice and is exposed to direct threats, citing criticism from the region and international accusations. At the same time, Serbian officials use topics such as the Declaration on the Common Future of Serbs and accusations against the High Representative for allegedly reinterpreting the Dayton Agreement, further polarizing society.
Pro-government media continue to portray Serbia as a victim of “historical revisionism” and false accusations coming from the West, all to reinforce the anti-Western narrative. Such rhetoric strengthens nationalist sentiments and deepens social divisions, while internal and regional political conflicts are further exacerbated.
What is particularly noticeable this year is the linking of narratives about the Srebrenica genocide to student protests. The pro-government media machinery actively spreads disinformation, claiming that students support the assertion of genocide, even though the protest organizers have never made such statements. Especially problematic is the claim that the protest organizers are connected to narratives about a “genocidal Serbian people” and “finishing the job in Kosovo.” These assertions are not based on facts but represent a rhetorical strategy by the authorities to use politically sensitive issues to undermine the legitimacy of the protests and the public support they enjoy.
Srebrenica as a political weapon
In the public sphere of the Western Balkans and beyond, the events of July 1995 in Srebrenica continue to occupy a central place in political and ideological debates. Although international judicial institutions, such as the International Court of Justice and the ICTY, have clearly determined that the mass killings of Bosniak men constituted genocide, certain political actors and media persistently challenge these decisions.
An example of this approach can be seen in reports by the portal Politika, where claims about the genocide are interpreted as part of Western pressure on Serbia aimed at “disciplining” it. In such narratives, insistence on recognizing the genocide is presented as part of a broader geopolitical strategy designed to portray Serbs as a genocidal people, thereby justifying Western actions and regional control. These narratives not only question historical facts but also shift the focus from the responsibility of perpetrators to alleged external conspiracies, resulting in the denial of victims. This discourse deepens ethnic divisions and constitutes an obstacle to reconciliation and stability, while simultaneously undermining democratic dialogue and a culture of remembrance.
The central disinformation frame in these texts is the portrayal of Srebrenica as a political tool used by the West to pressure Serbia. Rather than being seen as a war crime confirmed by international verdicts, Srebrenica is described as a “constructed” issue exploited by Western powers to weaken Serbia, Republika Srpska, and to permanently label Serbs as a genocidal people. This rhetoric has two key effects: denying final judicial decisions and the responsibility of perpetrators, while directing attention to external factors, creating a narrative of collective victimhood.
In media close to the regime and pro-Russian circles, this narrative fits into a broader anti-Western discourse. Srebrenica is treated not as a matter of justice and remembrance but as a political weapon, which diminishes the gravity of the crime and denies the status of the victims. This marginalizes respect for international law and hinders the reconciliation process, while citizens are mobilized through the portrayal of Serbia as a constant target of Western attacks.
This narrative is closely linked to other sensitive issues, such as Kosovo and the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, constructing a story of ongoing injustice against Serbs. Through the instrumentalization of the genocide issue, political control is maintained, and authoritarian regimes are strengthened. Instead of accepting responsibility and fostering a culture of remembrance, Serbia is portrayed as a geopolitical victim and the West as a manipulator and aggressor.
Media that deny the genocide in Srebrenica and shift blame to the West are not only an example of historical revisionism but also part of a strategic political tactic. Such narratives serve to preserve internal political stability by rallying the public around the image of Serbia as an eternal victim of external enemies. The consequence of this approach is hindered reconciliation, suppression of international law, and deepening ethnic divisions, which destabilizes democracy in the long term and prevents confronting the past, leaving space for possible future conflicts.
Dodik between indictment and denial of the High Representative: Turning a legal case into a political battle
Milorad Dodik’s role in spreading disinformation about Srebrenica and the anti-Western narrative gains an additional dimension through his legal dispute and systematic challenge to the legitimacy of High Representative Christian Schmidt. After the BiH Court lifted his detention and annulled the warrant, Dodik used this decision as rhetorical capital – not as a step in the legal process, but as a “victory” over an alleged attempt to destabilize BiH. The message is clear: the case is not a criminal matter within the rule of law, but a house of cards constructed by “malevolent” actors, according to his claims.
In the same vein, Dodik relies on firmly denying the authority of the High Representative. Schmidt is described in his discourse as “illegitimate,” “non-existent,” the author of “blunders” that must be “eliminated.” This delegitimizes the judicial framework of BiH, as court and prosecutor decisions are presented as an extension of foreign centers of power. Dodik blames Schmidt and the EU for “stealing” hundreds of millions of KM, announcing lawsuits and “pursuing” Schmidt, thereby shifting legal logic from institutions to political revenge. This strategy has a dual effect: it weakens public trust in state institutions and reinforces the narrative that Republika Srpska is the only legitimate authority, in contrast to “imposed” international standards.
After confirmation of the first-instance verdict – one year in prison and six years of political disqualification for disregarding the High Representative’s decisions – Dodik intensifies accusations that “EU structures in Sarajevo” are behind the whole process, claiming that “ambassadors write the verdicts.” His refusal to accept court decisions, announcements to appeal to Putin and the “new U.S. administration,” and the statement that he recognizes only the decisions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska create a framework of parallel legality. This framework has a single purpose: to preserve political continuity and power even under the weight of final legal decisions, turning every institutional control into an act of “political aggression.”
On the communication front, Dodik posted on X that a “synchronized attack” is underway on Serbia and Republika Srpska, with himself and President Vučić as primary targets. He compared it to a “new Oluja” and warned that Serbs face the fate of the Kurds, stating that they can defend themselves only through national unity – “One People, One State.”
Dodik’s strategy rests on three main pillars: challenging Schmidt and BiH institutions, presenting the indictment as a struggle against foreign pressure, and using Srebrenica and anti-Western messages for mobilization. The result is the erosion of the rule of law and the blockage of reconciliation – victims are sidelined, international verdicts are ridiculed, and institutions become surplus in a deliberately manufactured crisis. No dispute is resolved, but the political utility of the conflict, which remains the authorities’ most important resource, is prolonged.
Author: Nataša Stanojević
