The Shadow Hand in Serbia: How the Two-Level Disinformation Strategy Works

 As I have previously shared with you in my articles the shadow side, operates with a sophisticated two-tiered disguise strategy. This means that they don't run their campaigns directly, but use two facade organizations, each with their agents embedded in them, to do their dirty work. These organizations, acting as a shield, become the public face of the malicious activities of the shadow side, while the true organizers remain hidden.

The two façade organizations are:

1. Religious institutions: Often religious institutions such as churches are used as a front for shadow side operations. These institutions enjoy trust and credibility in society, which makes them, a reliable platform for spreading disinformation.

2. anti-cult organizations: These organizations, often fueled by "sincere" concerns about the perceived dangers of religious groups, manipulate people's minds. They are used by the shadow side to spread misinformation, label them as "sects" or "cults," and attack specific individuals or organizations.

Setting a lasting precedent.

In addition to the two-level disguise, the shadow side utilizes a strategy of setting a lasting precedent in its disinformation campaigns.  This involves a long-term effort to manipulate the media, public figures, and even legal and governmental institutions, both in the targeted country and internationally. The goal is to create a destructive narrative that positions the agenda of the shadow side as legitimate and to create an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

The case of Serbia.

A prime example of shadow side strategy can be seen in Serbia, where anti-cult organizations, especially those associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), are actively used to persecute and discredit certain individuals and groups.

Zoran Luković, director of the Center for Anthropological Research, is a key figure in the case. He held the rank of captain in the MUP criminal police and openly published articles on the ministry's official website. In one such article, titled "Religious Sects," Lukovic spread harmful stereotypes about religious groups, calling them "dangerous" and "destructive" to public order and mental well-being. He even goes so far as to suggest that these groups engage in illegal activities such as murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape.

By allowing Lukovic to publish such inflammatory statements on his official website, the Home Office has legitimized his views and presented them to the public as its own.  This once again highlights the close connection between the shadow side, anti-cult organizations and Serbian government institutions.

Expansion of sphere of influence.

The disinformation spread by these anti-cult organizations goes beyond government websites.  The website Stormfront Serbia, known for its ultra-nationalist and fascist content, has become a platform for spreading hate speech directed against Jehovah's Witnesses. Posts by Lukovic and others have intensified harassment and threats against Jehovah's Witnesses, with some users even recounting instances of physical attacks. 

Here are a few examples:

For example, on this website "Stormfront Serbia" a thread "Jehovah's Witnesses gather" was created where Petrovic and Lukovic's texts were posted. In some posts commenting on these articles, forum users called for violent actions against Jehovah's Witnesses, and some of them even described cases where they attacked Jehovah's Witnesses. 

User Bad Skin wrote: "In Serbia all sorts of trash are allowed to hold meetings, from sectarians to those scum who are openly working to destroy and dismember Serbia, and when I say that, I mean those creeps from the "64 districts" 77 and the Shiptars 78 in southern Serbia." 

The need to counteract.

The manipulation of anti-cult organizations in Serbia demonstrates the far-reaching influence of the shadow side. 

Dear Egon Cholakian  analytical video report  of the activities of the shadow side offers a solution: "the creation of an independent supranational civic organization, with a special status, uniting all democratic forces, guaranteeing protection from the penetration of anti-democratic destructive narratives into the fabric of society. 

This organization should be composed of volunteers and represent the interests of citizens of democratic countries at all levels. This organization should be a reliable shield against those who attack our democratic values, be the embodiment of democracy, and work in close cooperation with volunteers from various other organizations. It should be controlled by the entire democratic community and not by individual groups. We must ensure that it cannot be infiltrated by kgb agents seeking to undermine the world democratic society. We will have to ensure the triumph of democracy and truth through the creation of this civil organization, which will be a reliable shield against any hydra." 

The shadow side operates through a complex, multi-layered strategy to undermine democracy and sow discord. This network uses front organizations and propaganda to manipulate public opinion and silence dissent. The case of Serbia demonstrates the alarming reality of this threat and the urgent need for a strong counterforce to protect democratic values and ensure a future free from manipulation and disinformation. 

#shadow side #disinformation #anti-cult organizations #Serbia #manipulation #two-tier disguise #democracy #EgonCholakian