In the latest study by the Digital Forensic Center titled Unbreakable Bonds or Geopolitical Strategy: Influence of Serbia in Montenegro, the media have been identified as one of the channels for spreading malign influence. Russia and Serbia utilize different media and online platforms for hybrid campaigns that directly oppose Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic orientation. In addition to media from Russia and Serbia, the malign influence of those two countries is also manifested through aggressive propaganda through media that are not originally Serbian or Russian but support their agenda and use the same methods. Such media in Montenegro spread disinformation, fake news, and narratives that represent a more subtle, less noticeable form of manipulation. The activities of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian media in Montenegro, in synergy with political actors, activists, analysts, and organizations with the same ideological profile, are reflected in strong campaigns during important socio-political processes in Montenegro.
Montenegro has not yet had an adequate response to these challenges. Institutions fail to provide a response, while at the same time, malign foreign influences are being relativized from the highest levels of the state. In the upcoming period, DFC will through its work analyze in detail the various mechanisms used by the EU, member states, and Montenegro in the fight against disinformation and malign foreign influences. The goal is to identify the best practices and propose specific measures that would contribute to strengthening the resilience of Montenegrin society against these threats.
The unregistered portal IN4S plays a key role in promoting pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro, with editorial offices in Podgorica, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nikšić, northern Mitrovica, and Donbas. The portal is not registered in Montenegro, and Felix Savon, a Cuban boxer, is listed as the editor-in-chief. The actual founder and editor-in-chief is Gojko Raičević, known for his pro-Russian views and activities against Montenegro’s NATO integration.
IN4S is known for spreading disinformation, hate speech, and denying Montenegrin identity. It reports affirmatively on the politics of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war in Ukraine, and war criminals while denying the Srebrenica genocide. IN4S frequently fires at national minorities and contributes to the polarization of Montenegrin society, with support from local politicians and public enterprises, despite violations of laws, ethical standards, and journalistic codes. In the report by the U.S. State Department, it is identified as part of the Russian propaganda ecosystem.
The founders of the portal, Gojko Raičević and Vladimir Božović, who is the current rector of the University of Montenegro, visited Moscow in 2017, and Moldavian media reported in 2023 about alleged connections between Raičević and Russian intelligence structures during 2016. Those media list Igor Damjanović, a corresponded for IN4S and various Serbian and Russian publications, Vladimir Božović, and Dražen Živković, the founders of the portal Borba, as main collaborators of Gojko Raičević.
IN4S has intensified its activities since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and Igor Damjanović, a key figure for disseminating Russian propaganda reports directly from the front lines and collaborates with Russian military structures.
The portal IN4S to a significant extent disseminates narratives that are part of Russian propaganda within its sections Naša Srbija (Our Serbia) and Ruski pogled (Russian View), often reporting information from Serbian and Russian media outlets. This was demonstrated by the monitoring conducted by the Digital Forensic Center from March 11 to March 24, 2024. During the two-week monitoring leading up to the 25th anniversary of the NATO intervention in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), the extent to which IN4S relies on Russian sources of information to disseminate distinct manipulative content that glorifies Russia and demonizes the West has been analyzed. During the monitoring, it was observed that the portal IN4S continuously reported statements from Russian officials (Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov, Dimitry Peskov, Maria Zakharova) as well as announcements from certain ministries and bodies of the Russian Federation. The pattern of reporting the entire texts from certain Russian media outlets (TASS, Ria Novosti) or their branches in Serbia (Sputnik Serbia and RT Balkan) is particularly noticeable. In addition to those media outlets, there is also a frequent trend of reporting announcements originally from Telegram channels, which have been launched through Russian media agencies and then Serbian media before reaching the portal IN4S.
The seventh anniversary of Montenegro’s accession to NATO prompted the portals IN4S and Borba to re-disseminate the anti-NATO narrative that Montenegro was pushed into the warlike and criminal alliance and became the only country in the world to join NATO after the alliance bombed its cities and killed innocent citizens and children. By omitting facts about the NATO intervention in the FRY and by emotional manipulation, efforts are made to influence the citizens of Montenegro and their perception of NATO.
The activities of the portal IN4S are particularly evident during important socio-political processes in Montenegro, as evidenced by its extensive propaganda campaigns during Montenegro’s accession to NATO, the parliamentary elections in 2016 and the attempted coup, the population census in 2011 and 2023, the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion and religious processions, during numerous electoral processes, government formations, and voting of the Srebrenica Resolution. During those key events, IN4S has actively contributed to destabilizing the political scene and increasing national tensions, aiming to hinder Montenegro’s integration processes towards Western structures such as NATO and the EU.
In addition to IN4S, the portal Borba is also used for propaganda purposes, primarily to stimulate anti-Western sentiment and promote pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro. The founder of the portal Borba is Dražen Živković, who is now also the editor-in-chief of Prva TV. The portal Borba disseminates narratives that the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro are discriminated against and endangered, and advocates that Montenegro should strengthen ties with Serbia and Russia instead of Western partners. The portal provides daily support to pro-Serbian political subjects, particularly parties of the former Democratic Front.
The portal Borba promotes the idea that Montenegro should become part of the Serbian world, united with Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, denying Montenegrin identity and independence. Columnists of that portal support Vladimir Putin and his military operation in Ukraine, oppose NATO, deny the Srebrenica genocide and the existence of independent Kosovo, and promote convicted war criminals. The portal simultaneously reports in a negative context on individuals and groups who express different opinions, seeking to discredit and intimidate them. By reporting in such a manner, the portal actively contributes to creating an atmosphere of censorship and fear, influencing freedom of expression and democratic dialogue in society.
The portal is biased in its reporting on Serbia and President Aleksandar Vučić, often downplaying the significance of Montenegro. The DFC has repeatedly pointed out disinformation spread by the portal Borba. During 2019, Borba discredited Montenegrin institutions, particularly the National Security Agency (NSA). During the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2023, Borba disseminated unverified information about alleged electoral fraud. The portal takes content from Russian propaganda media RT Balkan and Sputnik Serbia, which have been sanctioned by the EU due to the invasion of Ukraine, a stance with which Montenegro aligned itself.
The portals IN4S and Borba represent key media platforms for promoting pro-Russian and pro-Serbian narratives in Montenegro, spreading disinformation and narratives, and manipulating public opinion to destabilize the political scene and polarize Montenegrin society. Both platforms are used to support political subjects and leaders advocating for strengthening Montenegro’s ties with Serbia and Russia while denying Montenegrin identity and opposing pro-Western integrations. Despite their evident malign influence, relevant Montenegrin institutions fail to provide adequate responses, further enabling those portals to continue their propaganda activities, which could have long-term negative consequences for Montenegro’s political and social cohesion.
Despite the fact that Montenegro joined EU sanctions against Russia in May 2022 and that the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) banned the broadcasting of Russia Today and Sputnik, Russian propaganda and malign narratives are still present in the information space. IN4S and Borba continuously take and disseminate news from those two Russian state-controlled media outlets. In this way, sanctions are bypassed, allowing the malign influence of Russia to exert its impact. This is yet another indicator that Montenegro lacks adequate mechanisms to combat disinformation and foreign interference.