In response to media articles published in Gazeta Express (in Albanian) titled: “Exclusive: This is the Serbian woman who spied for the Serbian List…” and Kosova Info (in Bosnian) titled: “Worked for EULEX, UNMIK: This is the Serb from North Mitrovica who spied for the Serbian List…”, where the name of Miodrag Milićević, Executive Director of NGO Aktiv, is mentioned without any factual basis or context, we strongly condemn these claims and wish to make the following clear to the public:
Miodrag Milićević has never been a member of the management team for the formation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities (ASM), as falsely stated in the article by Kosova Info, nor is he in any way connected to the case referenced in these texts. Both his name and the name of NGO Aktiv are deliberately and without evidence linked by the authors to individuals suspected of espionage, in an attempt to damage his personal and professional integrity, as well as the credibility of the organization he leads.
These attacks are not isolated incidents. They form part of an ongoing campaign of slander and discreditation that has been unfolding for years. NGO Aktiv and its Executive Director have previously been targets of tabloid assaults, defamation, and fake news, leading to sanctions by Press Council of Kosovo while criminal charges were filed for spreading falsehoods and manipulating the public.
The publication of unverified and false information by Gazeta Express, Kosova Info, and the Chair of the so-called “Octopus Institute” constitutes a serious breach of professional and ethical journalism standards and violates the right to dignity and reputation. Instead of serving the public interest, such reporting contributes to the destabilization of interethnic relations and undermines years of civil society efforts to foster trust among communities in Kosovo.
For all the reasons stated, NGO Aktiv will initiate legal proceedings against the mentioned media outlets and individuals, to ensure institutional accountability for unprofessional, unethical, and harmful journalism that jeopardizes the fundamental rights of individuals and the integrity of civil society organizations.
We also urge all media outlets in Kosovo to strictly adhere to the Code of Ethics and standards of professional journalism. The public deserves accurate, verified, and relevant information, not politically motivated constructions and propaganda. It is especially dangerous when such reporting targets individuals and organizations committed for years to dialogue, democracy, and the rule of law, as it exposes them to serious security risks.
