Reporters Without Borders Urges EU to Take Action on Rt’s Operations in Serbia

The international organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF) has urged the European Union to hold Serbia accountable for the operations of the Russian state media network RT within its borders. This was reported by the Balkan service of Radio Free Europe.

RSF asserts that the local branch of RT Balkan is utilizing its Belgrade office to "adapt Kremlin narratives" and disseminate propaganda across Southeast Europe.

The organization highlights that Serbia has not joined the sanctions against RT and other Kremlin-controlled media, despite being a candidate for EU membership, thereby allowing Russian media to operate freely in the country.

Pavol Szalai, head of the RSF office for the EU and the Balkans, stated in an interview with Radio Free Europe that Serbia's actions are at odds with its aspirations to join the EU. "It is unacceptable for both Serbia and the European Union that a sovereign and proud country like Serbia hosts a Putin propaganda factory used by Russia to spread its narrative," Szalai remarked.

RSF is calling on the EU to address this issue during negotiations with Serbia regarding its membership. Szalai indicated that the organization plans to raise the matter through its channels of communication with the European Commission and member states.

Research conducted by RSF shows that while RT Balkan does not operate a television channel, its website remains the primary platform for video content. RT Balkan positions itself as an online streaming service and multimedia website in Serbian, aiming to offer "an alternative perspective on regional and global events."

RSF contends that the editors and columnists at RT Balkan "act more like influencers than journalists," frequently appearing in other media outlets to enhance their visibility. "Presented as journalists or analysts connected to RT Balkan, they gain a broad platform to legitimize and disseminate Kremlin propaganda," the organization reported.