Prepared by: Festim Rizanaj
During the period 22–27 December 2025, media and social networks in Kosovo faced a significant intensification of misinformation, where fake news and distortion of facts took a central role, especially in content related to the early parliamentary elections.
During this period, fake news was mainly spread on Facebook, through unofficial pages and accounts such as “Luftari Spartak”, “Podujeva Sot”, “Çelësi i Suksesit”, “Prishtina Online”, “Shadervani” and “Gazeta Premium”. Thematically, the misinformation focused on the parliamentary elections, including false claims of political support from public figures such as Rifat Jashari, fabricated polls on the support of political entities in Kosovo and the diaspora, false exit poll results on election day, as well as fabricated statements attributed to US President Donald Trump. Also, false claims were spread about the detention of a van with money from Serbia, which were not confirmed by any official institution.
During the same period, deceptive content aimed at manipulating public opinion through fake images generated with artificial intelligence was also distributed on Facebook. One case involved the publication of a manipulated photo by the account “Haki Sadri Rugova”, which claimed that the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti was shown next to Milan Radoić, a person wanted for the attack in Banjska. Verification by hibrid.info proved that the photo was fake and that the original image depicted the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, with Radoić. Similarly, in the group “DIASPORA me ALBININ”, images were published that allegedly showed ammunition factories and combat drones in Kosovo, accompanied by messages in favor of the Prime Minister. These images also turned out to be generated with artificial intelligence and not real. These cases demonstrate the use of visual manipulations to influence political narratives and public perception during the election period.
During this period, cases of unverified content, conspiracy theories and misleading headlines (clickbait) were also identified, distributed mainly on social networks and online media. One case involved the publication of an image from the page “Kojshia Show – Sadri Imeri”, where Agim Pllashniku was shown holding a photograph that allegedly showed Dejona Mihaili with the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić. Verification by hibrid.info confirmed that the photograph was generated with artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories were distributed on the Serbian-speaking Telegram channels “Српски Инат” and “КОРИДОР” that Albanian inspectors were pressuring Serbian pharmacies to close, a claim that was not supported by any credible source. A case of clickbait was also identified by the medium "klankosova.tv", where an article based on Reuters reporting was headlined in a tendentious manner, directly attributing responsibility for the crisis to the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, although this did not reflect the real content of the original reporting.
During this period, a fake/hoax news story was also published regarding the claim of the opening of the Ibar Bridge. A video circulated on Facebook, shared by the pages “Mitrovica Press” and “Insajderi”, accompanied by the caption “Latest News: Ibar Bridge Opens”, showing footage of the bridge entrance being unblocked. However, verification by hibrid.info showed that the footage may have been manipulated and does not actually prove the bridge opening, making this content a typical case of disinformation and deception of the public.
Unverified content
An image has been published showing Agim Plashniku, a veteran of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), showing a photograph he is holding. The content, published on Saturday (December 20) on Facebook by the page called “Kojshia Show – Sadri Imeri”, is captioned “Agim Plashniku reveals the photo of Dejona Mihali with former Serbian Prime Minister Brnabić”. The photo shared by Plashniku, with the caption “Photos of Dejona Mihajli with the Prime Minister of Serbia are out!”, showing the coordinator for committees in the Vetëvendosje Movement, Dejona Mihajli, and the speaker of the Serbian parliament, Ana Brnabić, is generated with artificial intelligence (AI). (here)
Conspiracy theory
The Serbian-language Telegram channels “Српски Инат” (Serbian Anger) and “КОРИДОР” (Corridor), through a post published on Monday (December 22), claimed that “Currently in the KM, Albanian terrorist inspectors are visiting Serbian pharmacies, unofficially we learn that they have been given a deadline to close the pharmacies”. The claim that Albanian inspectors are visiting Serbian pharmacies and that they have been given a deadline to close them is not based on any facts. After online research, no media reports or credible sources were found, neither in Albanian nor Serbian, that would confirm such a development. (here)
Clickbait
An article titled “Reuters: Kurti’s victory risks a repeat of the year-long crisis in Kosovo” is published. The content with this title was published on Monday (December 22) on the medium “klankosova.tv”. Hibrid.info noticed that the Reuters report was given a title that suggests direct responsibility of the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, for the crisis in the country, although the original article presents concerns expressed by analysts and political actors, and not an editorial position of Reuters. (here)
Lies
An image was published on the social media Facebook with the caption "Latest News: Photos of Kurti with Milan Radojenciq emerge". The post was published by the account named "Haki Sadri Rugova". This image shows the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti next to the former deputy leader of the Serbian List, Milan Radoićić, who is also wanted by the justice system in Kosovo for the aggression in Banjska. After verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that the photo is not real. The original photo shows the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, with Radoićić. (here)
In the “DIASPORA me ALBININ” Facebook group, on Monday (December 22), a post was published containing two images, while the description claims that the images show the ammunition factory and the production of combat drones. “Ammunition Factory + Production of Combat Drones … ehhh to Happy ALBIN KURTI”, writes the description of this post, which was published in this group by the account named “Met'i Kosova”. After the verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that these images are not real. They were generated through Artificial Intelligence (AI). (here)
Fake news
An image has been published showing Rifat Jashari, the brother of Adem Jashari, the commander and founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), with a caption that purports to be a statement by him, through which he is alleged to be seeking support for the incumbent Prime Minister, Albin Kurti. This content was published on Monday (December 22) by a Facebook account named “Luftari Spartak”. After publishing this claim, Hibrid.info has not found any credible source that would confirm the alleged statement. (here)
A survey has been published that claims to show the support of political entities from Kosovo in the diaspora. However, based on the treatment by hibrid.info, it turns out that it is not reliable, as it lacks information such as the source and the methodology of its implementation, which makes it suspicious. (here)
The “Podujeva Sot” Facebook page has published content through which it falsely claimed that it is an online poll for the parliamentary elections. The article provides percentage figures for some of the political entities in Kosovo. After fact-checking by hibrid.info, searching with the keywords the percentages that were given in the aforementioned article, it was confirmed that no measurement for the December 28 elections has been published in any credible source of information. Also, the content lacks the basic data necessary to be considered a poll. (here)
Through a post published on Saturday (December 27) on Facebook by the page “Key to Success”, it is claimed that US President Donald Trump has addressed the citizens of Kosovo, inviting them to vote for a democratic Kosovo, free from crime and corruption. It is also stated in this content that he has declared that he is ready to cooperate with the new government to conclude the dialogue with Serbia, with recognition of Kosovo’s independence. The same claim was later published by another Facebook page “Prishtina Online”. After verification of the facts by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this statement was never made by the US president. (here)
Two pieces of content have been published claiming to present the results of exit polls on the support of political entities in Kosovo, on the day of the parliamentary elections (Sunday, December 28) until 11 am. One piece of content was published by a Facebook page named “Shadervani”, while the other was published by a page named “Gazeta Premium”. The content claiming to present the results of exit polls is not credible. (here)
Through a post published on December 27 on Facebook, it is falsely claimed that the Kosovo Police has stopped a van from Serbia with over 2 million euros and about 1 million Serbian dinars, suspected of vote buying. After verifying the facts by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this information has not been confirmed by either the Kosovo Police or credible media. Also, the photo used in the post is not related to the alleged case. The same was taken in 2023 and was published by Europol, as part of an action against drug trafficking in the Balkans. Also, in the official announcements of the Kosovo Police on Facebook and in the 24-hour reports of this institution for the dates of December 26 and 27, there is no report of stopping an illegal transport of money from Serbia. (here)
Fake news/Hoax
A video material is published showing footage of the opening of the entrance to a bridge, with the caption “Latest News: Ibar Bridge Opens”. This content was published on Saturday (December 27) on Facebook by two pages with the names “Mitrovica Press” and “Insajderi”. Hibrid.info found that this content, which shows the opening of the main Ibar bridge, may have been tampered with and manipulated. (here)