October 15, 2024
Serbia must “take urgent measures” in the struggle to combat Russian media disinformation, said European Union spokesperson Peter Stano in response to a recent Reporters Sans Frontières report, adding the warning that Belgrade’s failure to align with EU policy in this regard represents a “serious problem” on the country’s European integration journey.
Reporters Without Borders previously published analysis showing that Serbia doesn’t adhere to Brussels’ sanctions against Russian propaganda media and requested that the EU hold the country accountable during its membership negotiations.
According to a new RSF report, it is thanks to the Serbian authorities that RT Balkan is able to use its Belgrade office to promote the Kremlin’s narrative around Southeast Europe, with the report claiming that Serbia is “hosting Putin’s factory of lies”.
“Russian propaganda is everywhere in Serbia – on national television, on the internet and at the local level. It is spread by politicians and representatives of the Serbian authorities,” said RSF’s Pavol Szalai, adding that, by allowing RT Balkan to operate, the Government of Serbia is “violating the EU’s sanctions against Russia Today”.
Arno Gujon, director of the Serbian government’s Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, says that RSF’s claims represent “an attempt at media censorship”.
