SPUTNIK IS THE VOICE OF THE KREMLIN PROPAGANDA

The portal Sputnik is one of the key tools in the strategic plan of the Kremlin propaganda. The narratives from this portal aims at inciting divisions, spreading speculations and disinformation that would produce discord that would develop in some kind of clash. Sputnik is a Russian information agency, the successor of RIA Novosti. The agency implements its media strategy on the Balkans through its regional office – Sputnik Serbia.

The Sputnik serial on North Macedonia is a lengthy one. The texts are publish with a solid continuity, with recycled and repeated narratives. Risto Nikovski, Cvetin Chilimanov and Milenko Nedelkovski appear as Sputniks’ interlocutors very often.

Great Albania, CIA and foreign services, Coup de etat, the main focus of Sputnik prior to 27 April 2017

On April 6 2017, the Serbian version of Sputnik published a text with an accent on Great Albania, placing the thesis in its very headline: “Kosovo plus Macedonia” – “Great Albania”.

According to Sputnik, the crisis in North Macedonia at that point was inflicted from abroad, so the country can be federalized resulting in secession of the Albanians. Only few weeks later, on April 26 2017, Sputnik Serbia publishes another text titled: “Is it the CIA behind the conflict in Macedonia” alluding on the potential for new incidents similar to those in Kumanovo from 2015. The narrative for foreign influence was commonly used in several articles by Sputnik in 2017. Sputnik also promoted the scenario for coupe de etat, which was, in a way, the herald of the events on April 27, 2017.

Certain media outlets, embraced the Sputnik propaganda, following the narrative of alleged numerous extremists with large amounts of weapons, infiltrating the country from its north-western border.

When not using this narrative, the migrants come on the agenda. So, on April 3, 2017, Sputnik Serbia published “If the EU backs Zaev, Skopje will be struck by Migrant tsunami”.

THE FREQUENT USE OF GREAT ALBANIA

Great Albania is used frequently, thus expanding the concept to a regional threat. In almost all the cycles, the propaganda on Great Albania is used a secret gunpowder barrel, to be lighted when needed. In its articles, Sputnik concludes almost all the time the status of the Albanians drives the direction this country is going to, thus infiltrating the moment of sustainability in a form of a question.

The Great Albania narrative is being enriched through the Lazanskis’ concept, according to which the US is arming Albania.

The Kremlin strategists in this country, through their publications are making attempts to place the ethnical and political issues related to the Albanian minority as a part of the aspirations for NATO membership.

Sputnik undoubtedly points that the Albanians are the reason for the instability in Macedonia.

A narrative with the Great Albania in the focus was also served through the Serbian Minister of Defense Vulin.

Within this scenario, the freshest example is the greeting of the newly elected President Stevo Pendarovski, which is presented as an inclination of the politics of North Macedonia toward Kosovo – May 6, 2019.

The Map of Great Albania, is commonly used by Sputnik when North Macedonia is in question. The issue with Great Albania, is even being connected with the membership of North Macedonia in NATO.

KREMLIN FOCUS: THE WEST IS PREPARING A SCENARIO FOR INSTABILITY

On Frebuary 2, 2017, Sputnik describes the crisis with the headline: “Moscow: Macedonia is under foreign influence” alluding that the West purposely triggers crisis in the country.

US is setting the Balkans’ on fire, as analyzed by Milenko Nedelkovski for Sputnik, according to whome this is well thought of scenario for destabilizing Europe. In its analyses, Nedelnkovski arguments that the Smilkovsko Lake massacre, the Kumanovo unrests, even speculating with a scenario for terrorism on the Skopje Marathon.

Beside US, the EU is not excluded from the propaganda, thus analyzing its tolerance toward the arms smuggling.

In its narrative, Sputnik almost always connects the West with the crisis in this country.

THE CHURCH IS NOT EXCLUCED AS AN OPTION

The propaganda does not exclude the influence of the church also. The aim of this long-term strategy is to increase the Kremlin influence on the Balkans and to provoke problems that will complicate our country’s’ integration to NATO.

Kremlin is follows closely every moment of the relations between MOC-SOC. On May 25, in several turns, Sputnik published the text “Is there a huge turn in the dispute between the Serbian and the Illegal and Unrecognized Macedonian Orthodox Church”.

Previously, on several occasions, Sputnik put an accent on the autocephaly of the MOC as an issue that needs attention.

Kremlin insists on its claim that North Macedonia is a small country with minor significance for NATO. Yet, on a contrary to this thesis, Kremlin invest huge efforts in disabling the country’s chance to join the Alliance. What is notable is that the trend to trigger the propaganda at its full power before significant events, elections, visits of important persons, enactment of decisions etc.., which points to the fact that all of these events are followed very carefully.