Handelsbatt: ‘Vucic is a master of propaganda’ - BFMI

BFMI Director Antoinette Nikolova has been quoted in an article published by German news outlet Handelsblatt on the influence of foreign powers – particularly Russia – in Serbia.

Nikolova explained that the Serbian media environment is at the centre of Russia’s influence in the country. The state-owned telecommunication company Telekom Srbija has received a $88 million loan from the now-sanctioned Russian financial entity Sberbank. It also broadcasts Russia Today through its cable networks. Russia Today opened its Balkans office in Belgrade in 2022 and launched a Serbian-language news portal called RT Balkan.

Nikolova further explained that “Vucic, who controls the country's national TV channels as well as the country's major tabloids, is a master of propaganda. The current president was information minister for war criminal Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s. He skilfully plays with the pro-Russian feelings of the Serbs.” As a result, a large portion of Serbia media constantly publish pro-Russian disinformation and narratives.

Read the full article here.