June manipulations

In June, CRTA recorded 162 manipulations on the front pages of print media and in the headlines of central news broadcasts. The dominant narratives were, again, vilifying opponents and vilifying neighbours.
06.07.2026.
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Vučić's addresses in June (36 addresses)

In June, President Vučić made 36 public addresses. 276 local television channels broadcast events at which Vučić spoke, while 168 national and cable television channels carried the events - 444 channels in total. The most frequent topics were international affairs, with the economy and regional politics as secondary themes.

36

addresses by President Vučić

276

local TV channels carrying his addresses

168

national and cable TV channels carrying his addresses

Manipulations in headlines and leads of central news broadcasts (June 2026)

In June, CRTA recorded 162 manipulations. The dominant narratives were vilifying opponents, with 81 manipulations, followed by vilifying neighbours, with 49.

1) Vilifying opponents - 81 manipulations

Topics: the "sound cannon" affair and the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God - both used to target students and protesters ("blockaders").
Examples:
Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God:
  • "Blockaders desecrate a holy relic, calling the veneration of the Miraculous Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God a form of fetishism." (2 June 2026, TV Prva, Informer, Kurir, Alo!, Srpski Telegraf)
  • "While the people bow before a holy relic, the blockaders mock it. Alienated from the faith and from everything Serbian, they have crossed the line once again." (4 June 2026, TV Informer, Alo!)
Students and protesters are portrayed as hostile to faith and tradition, and as estranged from everything Serbian.
Sound cannon / students:
  • "Fake 'sound cannon' scandal plotted in advance at plenums as part of a plan to bring down the President and the state and spark civil war." (20 June 2026, Večernje Novosti, Srpski Telegraf, Alo!, Politika, Informer, TV Informer, TV Prva, TV B92, TV Pink)
  • "Vučić in a special programme on the 'sound cannon' affair: They were in a hurry to provoke a civil war. They assassinated my character and sought to destroy Serbia." (20 June 2026, TV B92, Kurir, Večernje Novosti, Politika, Alo!, Srpski Telegraf)
  • "Vučić puts an end to the fabrications: I would have resigned if a sound cannon had been used." (21 June 2026, TV Informer, TV Pink, Informer, Srpski Telegraf)
The "sound cannon" affair is used to portray students and protesters as authors of a staged plot aimed at toppling the President and the state, while the authorities present themselves as victims of a fabricated campaign.
New this month - targeting students combined with glorifying Vučić:

A pattern that stood out in June is the pairing of attacks on students with the glorification of the President.

  • "Aleksandar Vučić thunders: They have been trying to bring down our state for 18 months! But they will not succeed." (9 June 2026, Informer)
  • "The blockaders' myth of Vučić's isolation of Serbia has collapsed; diplomatic activity disproves the blockaders' campaign." (10 June 2026, TV Informer)
  • "Collapse of the idea of a united list - Blockaders: Vučić's victory is becoming increasingly certain." (12 June 2026, Alo!)

2) Vilifying neighbours - 30 manipulations

Topics: Montenegro (the EU summit in Tivat) and Kosovo (elections).
Examples:
Montenegro:
  • "New scandal orchestrated by Podgorica. Montenegrins expel 87 Serbs. An Air Serbia aircraft was yesterday sent back to Belgrade from Tivat Airport without explanation after passengers were strip-searched." (4 June 2026, Informer, Večernje Novosti)
  • "Boundless insolence. The Montenegrin parliament and media in a coordinated attack on Serbs." (4 June 2026, TV Informer)

Total manipulations

162

Dominant narratives

Vilifying opponents & vilifying neighbours


Kosovo:
  • "A new promotion of 'Greater Albania': The 'Black Eagle' sharpens its claws unhindered." (2 June 2026, Večernje Novosti)
  • "Pristina's terror during the election campaign continues. Kurti and Rašić are fuelling outbreaks of violence against Serbs." (4 June 2026, Politika)
  • "Repression and persecution of Serbs following the arrests at Gazimestan." (30 June 2026, Blic, Večernje Novosti, Politika)

    These narratives victimise Serbs in the region and frame Montenegrin and Kosovo authorities as the primary culprits.

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