On November 5<\/a>, protesters threw stones and red paint at the Novi Sad municipal assembly building. Additionally, the building\u2019s glass doors were shattered, and a group of masked individuals set off fireworks inside the premises.<\/p>\n High-ranking Serbian officials drew analogies between the actions of the protesters and the decisions of the Kosovo government. Even amid the tragedy that left numerous dead, they reiterated the narrative that Kosovo\u2019s interests align with those of the protesters in Serbia, equating the protesters\u2019 actions with those of the Kosovo government.<\/p>\n On November 6, 2024, the Head of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government, Petar Petkovic, wrote on \"X<\/a>\": \u201cIt is unacceptable that last night in Novi Sad, individuals desecrated the Serbian flag and vandalized Serbian institutions, just as Kurti and his extremists are doing in Kosovo. This is no coincidence, as Kurti and the rebels in Novi Sad share the same interest and methods: to hinder and weaken Serbia and everything Serbian through violence.\u201d<\/p>\n Serbian media amplified this narrative, giving space to these unfounded claims and thus portraying Kosovo as a destabilizing force aiming to weaken Serbia.<\/p>\n Petkovic\u2019s statement was circulated by outlets such as Novosti.rs<\/em><\/a>, Alo.rs<\/em><\/a>, Euronews.rs<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Tanjug.rs<\/em><\/a>, Pink.rs<\/em><\/a>, Objektiv.rs<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n This claim by Petkovic is a continuation of statements attempting to implicate Kosovo in developments within Serbia.<\/p>\n Such tactics are frequently employed by Serbian officials and media, often as a means to divert attention from internal issues by placing blame on external factors.<\/p>\n Alongside claims implicating Kosovo and Western agencies in developments in Serbia, accusations and attacks have also been directed at journalists. Serbian propaganda has been highlighted in statements from international organizations dedicated to the protection of journalists and information integrity. According to \u201cReporters Without Borders,<\/a>\u201d at least four media teams were attacked while covering the anti-government protests in Novi Sad.<\/p>\n \"Right to propaganda replacing the right to information. Perpetrators of attacks against journalists presented as victims. Freedom of the medias\u2019 enemies instead of media freedom. Serbia is the informational weak link of Europe. At my meetings with the authorities in Belgrade, I urged them to take measures against Russian propaganda, abusive lawsuits and the impunity of crimes committed against journalists. Speaking to the international community in Serbia, I pleaded for their support for such action,\u201d is cited in the statement of the head of the EU-Balkans Section of Reporters Without Borders, Pavol Szalai.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sbunker.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/hghghg-298x300.png\")
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