Many portals have fallen prey to several versions of videos published in the digital space (social networks, online media, online channels), which falsely claim a rally by the leader of Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti, in Shtërpcë, at which the rally was chanted "Serbia Serbia".
In these videos, after fact-checking, many details are observed that cast doubt on their authenticity.
For this reason, many media outlets that had published them removed them after a certain time.
One of the first details noticed in these videos, which raised doubts about their authenticity, is the presence of the former MP from the Bosniak community in Prizren, Emilia Rexhepi.
So, here the suspicion arises that Kurti addressed the Bosnian community in Prizren in the Serbo-Croatian language.
After research, it was determined that, in fact, this rally took place in the Prizren region, together with the political partner, the leader of the Bosniak community party from this region, Emilia Rexhepi.
The manipulated video has been presented in two versions: one of the versions claims to present it as a KTV recording, published by a portal named "Shekulli.info", while the other as a recording by Radio Television of Serbia, published by several other online media in the Albanian language.
Video with interference published by Shekulli.info:
https://www.facebook.com/shekulliinfo/posts/247020693666005
Video published with RTS logo:
The same video was also published by many other online media outlets in Kosovo, which later removed it, but evidence of its publication remained on the Google search engine.
Kosovo media publication of video with false claim:
In these falsely claimed videos, there are also several other details that cast doubt on their authenticity. The creators of one of them have tried to present it as a recording made by the Serbian state media (RTS), by placing the logo of this television. However, after research, it was found that Radio Television of Serbia has not used this logo for years, so it is a logo that was used more than 17 or 18 years ago.
Logos of Radio Television of Serbia over the years:
https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/RTS_1_(Serbia)
The authenticity of this video has been contested by the former Bosnian MP and former leading minister of the New Democratic Party (NDS), Emilia Rexhepi.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!
First of all, Shekulli.info must publicly apologize to me as the leader of the Bosnian party Nova Demokratska Stranka NDS. Furthermore, I will file a lawsuit for defamation on ethnic grounds! We are a parliamentary party since 2010, in 4 mandates I am a representative of the Bosniak community in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. In the Kurti Government I was also Minister of Local Government. I am surprised by the professionalism and credibility of this portal. I understand the need and concern of journalists, because they have been ordered to hide the dependence that has been created for decades by the majority parties and the Serbian List, with which they collaborate to overthrow the order of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.
Hibrid.info has managed to find the authentic video, which was used to create the videos with false claims. The authentic video shows an electoral rally of Kurti with Rexhepi, made on Saturday (February 6), made in Prizren with the Bosniak community.
Video of the electoral rally in Prizren, published by "Besa" television:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=745594939684391&ref=watch_permalink
Analyze:
The videos published claiming that Kurti and Rexhepi held a rally in the municipality of Štrpce, accompanied by cheers of “Serbia, Serbia” from the attendees, turn out to be fake. The creators of these videos have not been found, but they have been distributed by a number of media outlets in Kosovo. Based on fact-checking, hibrid.info assesses these videos as “Manipulation of facts”, “Fake news” and “Distribution of fake news”.
Reasoning:
The evaluation as "Manipulation of facts" is given to those media reports that use facts known to be correct, but interpret them in a distorted way. These reports typically use inaccurate information to draw inaccurate conclusions or claims, thereby misdirecting consumers' conclusions of media content in relation to the actual meaning of the facts presented.
The "Fake News" rating is given to media reports that are entirely the product of a medium that itself contains factually incorrect claims or information.
Content that is considered fake news can be reliably determined to have been created and distributed with the intent to misinform the public, i.e., to present a claim that is completely false as fact.
This rating is given to media reports that broadcast original content from another media outlet that contains fake news. The rating is only given for broadcasting content that is categorized as fake news.