The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Pristina had stated in an interview for Gazeta Express that in the coming months they will use a wide range of the British arsenal to continue the fight against criminality and corruption in the Western Balkans. The Facebook page “Specialja” misquoted the interview of the Embassy, claiming that: “We will make life worse for corrupt politicians in Kosovo as well.” This page is followed by more than 85 thousand followers. Another medium “Gazeta.com” has also distributed a misleading interpretation of this interview.
Based on the Gazeta Express article, this page has changed the title to a more sensational one in order to attract more readers and increase clicks. However, in the content of the news, it is not stated that the Embassy has mentioned that “they will make life worse for corrupt politicians in Kosovo,” as in that interview not only Kosovo was mentioned specifically, but the entire Western Balkans region.
“The United Kingdom is increasing its efforts to disrupt the links between politics and crime in the Western Balkans. This is the latest in a series of actions aimed at promoting accountability and ending impunity in the region. In the coming months, we will use the entire range of our arsenal to continue the fight against criminality and corruption,” the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Pristina told Gazeta Express.
*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.”
