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Concern in Albania regarding the increase of portals of Russian origin

2024-12-04 15:53:51, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Minister of the Interior of Albania, Ervin Hoxha, said that portals in the Albanian language, which are of Russian origin, have been added in the country.

He made these statements during a hearing in the Special Commission for the coordination and supervision of institutional actions to fight "disinformation and other forms of foreign interference in the country's democratic processes".

"Recently, it is estimated that portals in the Albanian language have been added to the Russian disinformation infrastructure in the region, they continue to have limited visibility and permissibility and a small number of clicks," said Minister Hoxha.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Commission against disinformation, Erion Braçe, said that it is very difficult to identify who is behind these portals.

"We are clearly aware of portals in the Albanian language, but originating in Russia and other malicious countries. There is no instrument to deal with portals that are of Russian origin and that are in the Albanian language. Internal misinformation remains a big problem, they are not formal and do not take responsibility for what they say," he said.

About two months earlier, the chairman of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority, Tomi Frashëri, declared in one of the sessions of this commission that the institution he leads has closed 155 Russian domains. He emphasized that their closure was mainly related to Russia's pro-war stance against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Ervin Hoxha, emphasized that as a member of NATO, Albania has the ability to prevent, counter and respond to Russia's hybrid attacks as a priority.

He emphasized that the strengthening of capacities for the detection and prevention of hybrid threats through investments in technology, public education and the strengthening of democratic institutions, remain vital for facing this challenge.

The Minister of the Interior said that the main perpetrators of hybrid campaigns and their main forms in cyber attacks as well as any other activity are state actors and organizations sponsored by them, and less non-governmental business organizations.

"Russia has increased its presence and influence in the region, opposing and delaying the European integration process of these countries through political and economic influence. It is accepted that Moscow's political propaganda does not come directly from Moscow, but comes repackaged in the same way as if it came from there and distributed through its satellites in the region. "Ninety percent of this Russian propaganda is done in the Serbian language," said Hoxha.

He said that during the years 2023-2024, Albania has faced cyber attacks on its critical information infrastructures. The minister raised the concern that currently the term "disinformation" is not defined in the Criminal Code of Albania.

Even the chairman of the Commission against disinformation, Erion Braçe, emphasized that there is a legal gap to address the problem of disinformation and that if it is not addressed, it could have an impact on the elections that are expected to be held in the spring of next year.

"We have been discovered, it is a great concern. The Ministry of the Interior and the State Police state that they are in a complete legal vacuum to act on foreign interventions that use disinformation to attack institutions or create clear divisions in society. There is no legal basis to act in such cases. If this gap is not fulfilled before the elections, there will be problems in the financing of campaigns, but also in terms of disinformation. It's enough to bring the case of Romania to him", emphasized Braçe.

The head of NATO, Mark Rutte, in recent days has said that the alliance is increasing its efforts to oppose the "sabotaging" acts of Russia, but also China, after he said that these two countries have tried to destabilize in recent years alliance states through acts of sabotage, cyber attacks and disinformation./ REL