Original article (in Montenegrin) was published on 30/10/2025; Author: Darvin Murić
Disinformation narratives have played a key role in pushing Montenegro into its current state – marked by xenophobia, searches for Turks across cities, and protests calling for their expulsion
As we have already explained, such narratives have been spread by media outlets, politicians and social media users alike. One of these narratives involved exaggerating the number of Turkish citizens in Montenegro, with claims that there are more than 100,000. These arbitrary assertions – contrary to official data – have continued to be promoted by Milan Knezevic, President of the Democratic People’s Party (DNP).
Knezevic persistently claims that there are 110,000 Turks in Montenegro, despite the Police Directorate, the Minister of the Interior Danilo Saranovic, and the Acting Director of the Police Directorate Lazar Scepanovic stating that the number is between 13,000 and 14,000.
In addition, in his most recent address – widely shared by media outlets and social media pages – Knezevic cited the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Did Erdogan say that if Serbia tries anything regarding Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will have to deal with 100 million Turks? Do you think that these 100,000 Turks in Montenegro, if they receive an order, would watch that calmly?” Knezevic stated.
The problem is that he quoted a fabricated and non-existent statement by the President of Turkey.
The misconception that Erdogan threatened Serbia over Kosovo is not new. Although it is again circulating on social media, it first appeared in 2014 and was reported by numerous media outlets. There was, however, one difference: in the original “statement,” Erdogan was said to have claimed that 100 million Turks would defend Bosniaks, whereas in the modern version the claim has evolved into “if Serbia touches Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.”
“If Serbia touches Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo, it will have 100 million Turks against it.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly stated that his country was ready to stand in defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo in the event of any threats from Serbia. “Turkey is no longer the same Turkey it was 30 years ago. Today, we are the strongest NATO member in this region, and we will not allow our friends to be endangered,” Erdogan allegedly said, adding that any potential aggression would meet a strong response: “If Serbia touches Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo, it will have 100 million Turks against it.” This statement allegedly caused strong reactions across the region, with analysts noting that it came at a sensitive moment in Balkan relations, the post claims.
However, the statement was publicly confirmed as fabricated by the then Turkish ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cihad Erginaj. As explained by colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Raskrinkavanje, the then ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, also stated that certain media outlets in Bosnia and Herzegovina had published false reports about an alleged statement by the Turkish Prime Minister. Back in 2014, many media outlets fell for this falsehood, including RTCG.
Therefore, given that it is clear this is a statement Erdogan never made – and one that has since been altered – the post is rated as fake news.
The “Fake news” rating is given to an original media report (completely produced by the media that published it) that contains factually incorrect claims or information. Content that is rated as fake news can be reliably determined to have been created and disseminated with the intent to misinform the public, that is, to present a completely false claim as fact.
