On social media, a video has been circulating showing officials of the United Nations Mission waving the Serbian flag while nationalist Serbian songs play in the background. However, the claim that it was filmed in Kosovo is unfounded.
On March 18, 2024, , “RKS NEWS” shared a video on the "X" platform, accompanied by the description: "Utterly unacceptable! #UNMIKKosovo was spotted flying a #Serbian flag, a blatant disregard for neutrality and the sensitive dynamics in #Kosovo. This provocation undermines peace efforts and deeply insults Kosovo's sovereignty. Immediate action and clarification are needed!"
The video was shared by several Serbian profiles on TikTok, where in the comment section, many users have welcomed this video. Some of them have glorified this mission, saying "Long live UNMIK" or "Kosovo is Serbia." However, there have also been those who denied that the video was filmed in Kosovo.
After this post was significantly shared, the UNMIK Mission, through a media statement,denied that the video was filmed in Kosovo, labeling it as fake news. In their clarification, they stated: "The troops shown in the video are units of the Serbian Armed Forces deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)."
"This fabrication is unacceptable, but UNMIK is committed to continue to defend the truth actively; we support fact-checking and media literacy; and the building of media and civil society capacities to promote peacebuilding and trust," their clarification reads.
Later,“RKS NEWS”, the media outlet that initially shared the video without verifying its authenticity, reacted by stating that this was a Serbian attempt to deceive public opinion, which was disseminated through Serbian channels. RKS NEWS, based on the description, is a news agency with approximately 600 followers that primarily distributes posts with political content, focusing temporarily on Kosovo-Serbia relations.
The mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is determined by the Security Council through Resolution 1244 of 1999. The mission, now reduced in staff and without executive competencies in place, is engaged in assisting in the provision of conditions for a peaceful and normal life for the citizens of Kosovo and advancing stability in the Western Balkans. While Kosovo has consistently demanded that UNMIK's mission be concluded, Serbia insists that UNMIK remains in Kosovo in unchanged numbers and with the same mandate. The Security Council also holds regular sessions twice a year on Kosovo, discussing the security situation.
*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.
