Author: Gurakuç Kuçi - Senior Researcher
Gurakuç Kuçi is a doctor of international relations and the history of diplomacy at the University of Tetova in North Macedonia, he has completed a master’s degree in International Politics and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina”, as well as another bachelor’s degree in Journalism at the same institution. He is a researcher at the Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS” and has experience working with non-governmental organizations and journalism. Kuçi has several scientific publications in international journals.
On January 15, 1999, during the second day of the Orthodox New Year, Serbia marked yet another dark chapter of atrocity in its history. In the village of Reçak in Shtime, Serbian forces massacred 45 men, women, and children, all unarmed civilians. This barbaric act once again demonstrated the brutality of a genocidal regime, intent on the extermination of Albanians. Until that day, Serbia’s propaganda machine had managed to obscure and distort the facts of its crimes in Kosovo. However, in Reçak, the truth triumphed under the watchful eyes of Ambassador William Walker. On the morning of January 16, 1999,…
Dr. Iryna SynelnykResearcher at Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS”iryna.synelnyk@octopusinstitute.org Abstract This paper deals with Russia’s declared and real goals in Ukraine during the war, which has been going on since 2014, and Russia’s interests in expanding its influence in European countries. This topic has been covered by many contemporary media in Russia, Ukraine and Western countries, therefore we have made an attempt to analyze this information through a content-analyze, summarizing some findings of analytical centers and some Ukrainian and Western experts. Special attention is paid to the ideological basis of modern Russian aggression and attempts to form an anti-Western…
Dr. Gurakuç KuçiSenior Research at Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS”gurakuq.kuqi@octopusinstitute.orgProfessor at Universum Collegegurakuq.kuqi@universum-ks.org Abstract The Western Balkans is transforming into one of the primary fronts of confrontation between global powers, where Russia’s and Serbia’s hybrid strategies directly challenge the stability and sovereignty of countries in the region. This paper examines the complex dimensions of this hybrid warfare, focusing on recent attacks in Banjska and Zvecan, which signify a deliberate escalation aimed at destabilizing Kosovo. Through the use of demographic manipulations, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and the provocation of ethnic tensions, Russia and Serbia are leveraging the Balkans as a…
Dr. Gurakuç Kuçi Senior Researcher at Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS”gurakuq.kuqi@octopusinstitute.org Abstract This paper examines Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics against the Western Balkans, focusing on using direct and indirect methods to exert influence in the region. The study delves into Russia’s strategic use of media manipulation, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns, alongside its employment of proxy state and non-state actors such as Serbia, Republika Srpska, and the Serbian Orthodox Church. Leveraging historical, cultural, and religious ties, Russia seeks to destabilize the Western Balkans and prevent closer integration with NATO and the European Union. Special attention is given to the geopolitics…
Introduction: The Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS” in Pristina organized an international conference on October 2, 2024, titled “The Impact of Russian Aggression in Ukraine on European Geopolitics.” The event featured prominent experts, diplomats, politicians, and scholars from the region, as well as internationally recognized figures, including Dr. Jennifer Cassidy from Oxford, Dr. Pekka Kallioniemi from Finland, Ukrainian Professor Dr. Ihor Todorov, among others. Discussions focused on the consequences of the conflict for security and international relations, offering a platform for dialogue and deep analysis of the impacts of Russian aggression, the challenges, and opportunities for Europe in this…
On the anniversary of the Banjska attack, the objectives behind this violent act are being refreshed with renewed intensity. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expressed strong support for the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, promoting the return of Serbian forces to Kosovo in accordance with UN Resolution 1244. This project, recently endorsed by the Great All-Serbian Assembly, is gaining increasing traction in Western diplomacy, driven by the Serbian lobby, serving as an instrument to justify Belgrade’s territorial ambitions. Russia, as the primary sponsor of this process, has utilized Serbia’s alignment with the West as…
Abstract: This paper examines three cases of espionage arrests in Kosovo, involving two Serbian individuals and two Albanians linked to the Serbian Information and Security Agency (BIA). The aim of these spies was to discredit the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), alter the narrative of the Reçak massacre, create a “yellow house” similar to the one in northern Albania, and destabilize the state of Kosovo by inciting interethnic conflicts. Through the analysis of specific cases and motivation theories, this paper sheds light on the reasons why individuals engage in espionage against their own country, Serbia’s efforts to manipulate the history and…
Institute for Studying Hybrid Warfare “Octopus” has prepared a weekly summary of Serbia’s actions that threaten Kosovo and the Western Balkans region. This report does not include the latest incidents concerning the arrest of BIA spies in northern Kosovo and Ferizaj, but the Octopus Institute is preparing separate reports on these and other topics. The Serbian army conducted significant training with members of the fighter-bomber squadron from the 98th aviation brigade at the “Morava” military airport near Kraljevo, using the “Orao” attack aircraft. The training focused on providing air support to ground and Special Forces in combat operations. Serbian Defense…
Abstract Electoral processes are gaining increasing importance on the geopolitical stage, becoming a major force in shaping politics and international relations. Observing elections in countries such as the USA, Germany, and Italy, confirms that ideological changes within political parties are significantly impacting geopolitical dynamics (i.e., electoral politics as a form of geopolitics). These changes are evident in the use of electoral processes by autocratic regimes such as Russia and Serbia to influence fragile democracies, including North Macedonia and Montenegro. The hybrid warfare strategies of these regimes aim to influence the outcome of elections and manipulate political structures in their favor.…
Dr. Gurakuç Kuçi“OCTOPUS” Institutegurakuqkuqi@octopusinstitute.org Key points: Key conclusions: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has threatened the West that they must choose between Kosovo and Serbia. He further continued that if they choose Kosovo, Serbia will “wait for the best possible moment and they will use the opportunity”. Vucic strengthened these threats on the basis that Kosovo will be supported by the West for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) and NATO. In a congratulatory letter addressed to Putin for the victory in the elections in Russia, Vucic complains to him about the “difficult political situation that the Serbian people were…