Prepared by: Festim Rizanaj
Last week, misleading content was prominent in the misinformation ecosystem in Kosovo, being distributed primarily on TikTok, Facebook, and dubious websites.
The deceptive content was published on TikTok, Facebook and suspicious websites. A video published by the account “shqip010” on TikTok manipulated the audio using Artificial Intelligence (AI), falsely claiming that a journalist had commented on former President Hashim Thaçi. On Facebook, users were sent a fraudulent message threatening to have their pages shut down, while a suspicious website “bino-em.sbs” advertised the medical product “Flexiwell” with false information. Similarly, a TikTok account, “goplusenergy_drink”, promoted a fraudulent prize game, using content stolen from the official brand.
Unverified content was published on Facebook with an old claim that 640 thousand tons of gold are found outside Pristina, misrepresenting a report by the British company "Western Tethyan Resources".
The fact manipulation was published on Facebook and claimed that Prime Minister Albin Kurti called Albanians criminals and Serbs angels, while the audio was edited and taken out of context from a speech he gave in 2014.
The conspiracy theory came from the Speaker of the Parliament, Ana Brnabić in the parliament, the Serbian List on Facebook, and Petar Petković on "X" where they linked the incident with smoke bombs by the opposition to Albin Kurti without evidence, presenting it as part of a conspiracy against Serbia.
The fake news was published on social networks, claiming that LDK candidate Marigona Geci has declared that her party will vote for Albin Kurti's government.
Disinformation spread on Facebook, Telegram, and the “X” platform, including false claims of “KLA” calls in the Serbian Parliament, the unwarranted arrest of children in North Mitrovica, and a misrepresentation of Agron Beka’s identity as a prosecutor.
The clickbait was published on Facebook by Klan Kosova on March 6, with the title “Criticism of Jashari – 'This government, there are anti-KLA people inside'”. The topic was a manipulation that used the image of Rifat Jashari and created the false impression that he had made a statement critical of the government.
Unverified content
In a Facebook post on March 2, 2025, the page “Pernime” has returned a claim from several years ago about the assets of Pristina. “640 thousand tons of gold, the British company announces that they are on the way out of Pristina”, says the caption of a photo published by this page. Hibrid.info had addressed the same claim, published by several Albanian-language media two years ago. It was about a research by the British company “Western Tethyan Resources”. But hibrid.info had found that the same figures are not given in the publication of this company. The publication states that 640 thousand tons of ore with gold extraction potential have been discovered, and not pure gold. (here)
Lies
A video material is published showing a person speaking, with a caption claiming that it is a journalist, who expressed surprise at the bad words about former President Hashim Thaçi, after meeting with some Albanians from the diaspora. This content was published (March 2) by an account named “shqip010”. In addition to the caption, the same claim is also heard in the audio from this video. The audio heard in the video is generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The person in the image is not talking about what is claimed. (here)
Facebook users have received a warning message in their messages section, claiming that their page will be permanently closed due to a management error. The message contains a link, which the user is asked to click if they believe it is an error on Facebook's part. It is written in Albanian, but the sender bears a foreign name, "Walter Silva". After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this message does not come from Facebook (META) and that it is a hoax. (here)
An Albanian-language website “bino-em.sbs” claims to offer the opportunity to purchase a medical product called “Flexiwell” for a price of 5 euros. According to the website, this product is used against back and joint pain. On this website, the flag of Kosovo and the logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) are placed on this claim, and it is claimed that in order to purchase that product you must answer 6 questions. After verification by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this website is a fraudulent “Phishing” (here)
The account named “goplusenergy_drink” on TikTok claims to be a reward game for its followers. This account has published six videos in two days and asks followers to enter a link that appears on the account for the reward. But this page, according to the findings of hibrid.info, is dangerous. Also, the published content is taken from previous posts of the official account of the energy drink brand. (here)
Manipulation of facts
A video was posted on a Facebook page showing Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Mimoza Kusari-Lila, with a caption claiming that he called Albanians criminals and Serbs angels and a voice-over saying that “the most monstrous crimes were committed by Albanians.” After verification, it was confirmed that the voice-over in the video had been edited and the statement had been taken out of context from a speech Kurti made in Parliament on April 23, 2014. (here)
Conspiracy theory
In the Serbian Parliament, opposition MPs caused an incident on Tuesday (March 4) by throwing smoke bombs and unfurling anti-government banners after opposing the agenda. Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, the Serbian List and Petar Petković linked the incident to Albin Kurti, describing the opposition as his collaborators. These statements, without any basis, aim to link the incident to Kurti and present any opposition to the government there as part of a conspiracy by Kurti against Serbia. (here)
Fake news
Through a post, it is claimed that the candidate for deputy from the ranks of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Marigona Geci, has stated that this political entity will vote for the government of Albin Kurti. After verification of the facts carried out by hibrid.info, it was confirmed that this claim is false. Even Marigona's father, Gani Geci, has denied such a thing through a comment. (here)
disinformation
It has been claimed in a video posted on Facebook that amid tensions in the Serbian Parliament on Tuesday (March 4) there were chants of “KLA, KLA”. But the audio also contains chants of “Ustasha”, referring to extreme Croatian nationalists and not the Kosovo Liberation Army. This is also confirmed by the reporting of the Serbian language media “n1srbija”. (here)
On March 6, the Serbian Telegram channel “БУНКЕР” (BUNKER) and an account on X (formerly Twitter) shared a false claim that Kosovo authorities had arrested minor children without reason and without informing their parents. According to hibrid.info and the Serbian media outlet “Kossev.info”, six minors (initially reported as four Serbs and two Albanians) were arrested in North Mitrovica due to a conflict between them. Later, the Kosovo Police clarified that only one Bosniak and two Albanians remained at the station, while three Serbs were released. The case was classified as “light bodily injury”. (here)
The account “Durim Elshani” on the “X” platform has published a photo depicting Agron Beka and the assets declared three years ago. In the publication, the account wrote “A prosecutor of Kosovo”. But the truth is that Beka has not been and is not a prosecutor of Kosovo. He is a university professor and has been a “non-prosecutor member” of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council for three years, after a vote in the Kosovo Assembly. (here)
Clickbait
A video material has been published with the caption “Criticism of Jashari – 'This government, there are anti-KLA people inside'”. The video, in which before clicking on it, the image of Rifat Jashari, brother of Adem Jashari, commander and founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), is seen, was published on the “Klan Kosova” television page on Facebook on March 6. Based on the description placed in the video and based on the video cover photo, it can be said that before clicking on the video, the audience may believe that the statement presented came from Rifat Jashari. (here)