After Viola von Cramon’s adviser for the Western Balkans, Djordje Bojović, recently found himself the target of a smear campaign on social networks, after coming to Bojović’s defense, the political analyst, Agon Maliqi received similar treatment yesterday.
A new attack aimed at the staff of the European rapporteur occurred recently on the „X“ social network when Bojović was accused of being “crime denier,” a „Russian pawn and Serbian agent“, and unsuitable to be von Kramon’s adviser.
Bojović himself stated that it was an orchestrated campaign by bots from Kosovo, that is, Self-Determination bots.
“Organized farms of trolls supporting ruling party in Kosovo are now attacking everyone who criticizes Kurti,” said former Kosovo Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi.
A political analyst, Agon Maliqi, reacted in a similar tone:
“Shameful targeting of a civil society activist by a sophisticated Kosovo-based bot network which has a clear political address. I say clear address because it regularly orchestrates campaigns and harasses voices of any ethnicity that are critical of the government,” Maliqi said, commenting on Djordje Bojović’s post.
Today, however, Maliqi reacted again, alleging that a „sophisticated bot network“ was targeting him.
“Yesterday after tweeting about a sophisticated Kosovo-based bot network which happens to target anyone critical of the government, I got the full vile trolling treatment,” Maliqi said.
He added that “as usual the process” begins with a “’motherboard’ account putting a target for the bots and the gullible real folks to bite and throw the dirt.”
1/ Yesterday after tweeting about a sophisticated 🇽🇰-based bot network which happens to target anyone critical of the govt, I got the full vile trolling treatment. It was entertaining to learn a lot about myself and see the process of charachter assasination unfold in real time.
— Agon Maliqi (@AgonMaliqi) March 10, 2024
Strip him of citizenship, declare him a persona non grata
Maliqi shared a post from an account on the social network „X“ with an avatar wearing a white cap and Albanian symbols.
The post states that Maliqi looks like “a creepy person” that “gives credibility to genocide deniers”.
The same account called on the Kosovo government to declare Maliqi a persona non grata because „he and any other genocide denier are not welcome in our country.“
Another account shared the same opinion and requests that Maliqi should be „stripped of citizenship“. Some users of this network said that “genocide deniers” should be „boxed whenever you meet them on the street“.
“Surely by now I myself am a ‘genocide denier’ – it has become fact – so I have to be declared non-grata in my own country; stripped of my citizenship; my passport and properties confiscated. And yes, please feel free to punch the guy anytime you see him in the streets,” Maliqi said sarcastically.
Paid spy, foreign agent
One of the accounts on the social network „X“ – „Dardania“ claimed that Maliqi is allegedly a „foreign agent“ and that he „isn’t working for Kosovo“, but for „some other countries’ interests“.
In a similar tone, another account „Daily Shqip“ states that „civilian activists can also be paid spies“ and that there is „enough evidence to confirm this“. The same account calls on Maliqi to „not shame“ himself but to delete the post.
„Otherwise everyone else will see you as a traitor who supporting foreign spy activities hidden behind NGOs.“
One account even says he’s „not sure if his dad is his dad“:
“Is he Albanian anyway? Maybe he needs to do a gene check, says the bot army which promotes and supports a self-proclaimed progressive government fighting authoritarianism,” Maliqi said sarcastically.
Maliqi then proceeds to list his “favorite” posts.
“That I am a ‘literal Marxist like full on leftist’ and that I called Albanians fascists in 1999 (when I was 15). These two new charges caught me off guard, to be honest. The bot algorithms might have mixed me up with two actual advisors to the current PM.”
Maliqi also revealed that he received a threatening message from one of these accounts.
This political analyst concluded that this types of attacks by “inauthentic bot networks have become a staple of suppressing free speech in Kosovo, at least on Twitter.”
“What is most worrying are the signs of foreign actor presence, including often uniquely poor Albanian writing and inauthentic anti-West narratives.”
Bojović then reacted, sharing his support of Maliqi.
“After yesterday’s support for me, Agon Maliqi got an avalanche of same VV bots at his neck. It ain’t pleasant, but it won’t silence us either. A different region is possible. Stay strong Agon!” he tweeted.
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