On December 15, 2024, the Facebook page “Speciale.com” shared a false post claiming that the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey M. Hovenier, had stated that the opposition in Kosovo was aligning more with demands from Belgrade than with the decisions of Kosovo's Government. This fabricated statement, accompanied by a photo of the ambassador, also claimed that this situation complicates the U.S.'s stance toward Kosovo's Government.
“The opposition aligns more with the demands coming from Belgrade than with the decisions of the Government. This makes it harder for us to maintain our stance toward the Government,” reads the caption under Ambassador Hovenier’s photo.
This unfounded claim, published by Speciale.com, received a total of 291 likes, 125 shares, and 77 comments, most of which were negative toward the opposition and the ambassador. However, the post was deleted from the page after a few hours.
The same photo with an identical caption had previously been shared on another Facebook page, “,Puna e Mbarë Kryeministër” and was debunked as early as 2022.
Facebook pages like “Speciale.com” and “Puna e Mbarë Kryeministër” serve as examples of how social media platforms are used to disseminate disinformation.
According to data available on Facebook, Speciale.com was created on May 31, 2021, and is managed by five individuals from North Macedonia.
The page currently has 78,000 followers.
No official source or media inquiry confirms that Ambassador Hovenier made such a statement. Publishing such baseless content constitutes a clear act of disinformation aimed at fueling political tensions between the opposition and the Government of Kosovo.
By associating the opposition with Belgrade's positions, a false perception is created, damaging its public image.
This type of disinformation, involving fabricated claims about the stances of foreign diplomats, can have political repercussions. The U.S. Embassy and other international representatives play a crucial role in Kosovo's political and institutional processes. Efforts to involve them in false narratives undermine citizens’ trust in these institutions.
*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.”
