On February 7, 2025, the Serbian media outlet "Informer.rs"published an article titled: "Tensions at Their Peak! A Dangerous End to the Campaign in Kosovo: Is Albin Kurti Threatening Serbs in the Province with Unloaded Weapons?!"
In the article, the outlet claims that ahead of Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, organized, as they refer to, by the "temporary institutions of Prishtina", on February 9 Prime Minister Albin Kurti is escalating threats against Serbs in the final phase of the campaign. Among other things, the article references Kurti’s statement during a rally in Suhareka on January 28, where he pledged that in the next mandate, one billion euros would be invested in defense.
"After announcing plans to purchase one billion euros worth of weaponry, Kurti stated at his final rally in Podujeva that he would 'protect Kosovo to its every corner.'" This is also the slogan of his so-called extremist party, Vetëvendosje, during the election campaign, one allegedly built on continuous threats against Serbs in Kosovo and M,” wrote Informer.rs.
In his speech, Kurti emphasized that Kosovo is arming itself for self-defense, not to attack others, countering the persistent claims made by Serbian media.
The outlet also quoted the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs, Milovan Drecun, who stated: "Kurti stopped to tell the Albanian public that he was supposedly the one who 'reintegrated' in other words, occupied the north of Kosovo. He continuously instills fear among Albanians by claiming that there is a possibility of an attack from central Serbia."
Beyond statements from politicians known for their anti-Kosovo stance, Informer.rs did not provide any evidence to support its claim that Kurti’s pledge to strengthen the army is directed against Kosovo’s Serbs.
Kurti’s campaign speeches were also commented on by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who stated on "RTS": “He keeps his gun loaded at all times and wants to shoot Serbs, which he has already done.” This statement was later shared by "Informer.rs" in an article titled: “Vucic on Kurti’s Rhetoric: ‘Loaded Guns and Shots at Serbs, While the West Closes One Eye.’”
Throughout Kosovo’s election campaign, "Informer.rs" has consistently published articles linking Kurti’s promises to an alleged intent to attack Serbs. The outlet has also used incidents that occurred during this period to assign blame, despite the fact that authorities have yet to clarify the cases. One such article was published after the phrase “UÇK” was found written on the wall of a Serb’s house.
"Serb attacked by Kurti was Vucic’s godson’s father. 'UÇK' was written on his house facade," writes Informer.rs. According to the outlet, “Nikola Jankovic, the father of little Lazar, the baby born in Pasjan maternity ward and baptized by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, found himself under attack by Albin Kurti and his terrorists.”
"Unknown individuals wrote 'UÇK' on Jankovic’s house facade and defaced posters of the Serbian List. He claims that he may have been targeted because Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is the godfather of his son, Lazar, and that someone might be troubled by Serbian unity," writes "Informer.rs".
The official campaign for Kosovo’s parliamentary elections began on January 11, 2025, with the elections set to take place on February 9, 2025.
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”
