The fires that swept across Albania during the summer were accompanied by a wave of posts linking them, without evidence, to Israeli tourists and nationals. The claims were repeated from Krujë to Himarë, while official data do not support this link and tourism experts warn that such narratives could damage perceptions of Albania as a safe destination.
A video of an electrical substation engulfed in flames in Vlora was shared on social media with the false claim that it showed an “Airbnb” that had burnt down after the owner evicted several Israeli soldiers. The claim spread in several languages, accompanied by anti-Israel narratives and, in some cases, dehumanising language.
A statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s position of non-recognition of Kosovo remained unchanged, together with the Municipality of Prishtina’s decision to remove the “Free Ukraine” banner, was distorted into claims that the Ukrainian president had said “Kosovo is Serbia” and that Albanians were abandoning Ukraine, culminating in calls for them to “fight for Russia.”
