The Balkan Puppet Show: Berat Buzhala, Richard Grenell, and the Kremlin's Grip on Kosovo
The alliance between Buzhala and Grenell, influenced by Serbia and Russia, threatens Kosovo's sovereignty, urging immediate action from its security apparatus to safeguard stability.
In the volatile and politically fraught landscape of the Western Balkans, few figures embody the nexus of power, media influence, and foreign manipulation as sharply as Berat Buzhala. A former politician with deep ties to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Buzhala has since become one of the country’s most influential media moguls. His publication Nacionale, is viewed by some as powerful vehicles for shaping public opinion—while others see them as instruments of political manoeuvring that serve not Kosovo’s interests, but rather those of Serbia and, by extension, Russia. The man behind these outlets has found an ideological ally in Richard Grenell, a former U.S. diplomat whose controversial actions in Germany and the Balkans raise profound questions about the role of external actors in undermining democratic stability in the region.
As Kosovo stands at the crossroads of democratic resilience and foreign manipulation, the relationship between Buzhala and Grenell—and their respective ties to Serbian and Russian interests—sheds light on a broader, more insidious effort to destabilise the country. This long-read feature explores how Buzhala, Grenell, and other actors are aligned with Kremlin-backed Serbia, amplifying narratives that threaten to dismantle Kosovo’s hard-earned sovereignty.
Berat Buzhala: Media Mogul or Political Pawn?
To understand Berat Buzhala’s influence, it’s important to look at his political roots. Once a key player within Kosovo’s Democratic Party (PDK), a party long associated with figures like Hashim Thaçi and Kadri Veseli—both of whom are entangled in allegations of corruption and war crimes—Buzhala transitioned into media with strategic precision. His media empire, including Nacionale, has become powerful enough to hurt Kosovo’s national security, often acting as a counterweight to the government of Kosovo in a desperate attempt to delegitimise Prishtina’s policies against Belgrade aggression. But this media dominance has raised serious concerns about his motivations and the financial forces backing him.
Reports from the Bosnian investigative outlet Slobodna Bosna have uncovered alarming links between Buzhala’s media ventures and Serbian political interests. According to a July 2024 exposé, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic orchestrated clandestine financial transactions aimed at bringing Kosovo’s media landscape under his control. Among the beneficiaries of this scheme, Buzhala’s Nacionale and Periskopi feature prominently. While Buzhala has publicly denied any ties to Vucic’s financial operations, the lack of concrete evidence refuting these claims has only intensified scrutiny.
Further complicating Buzhala’s position are his connections to Zvonko Veselinovic, a well-known Serbian crime figure (Black listed by the US) with deep ties to Vucic’s administration. Veselinović, notorious for his role in organised crime, has long been instrumental in Serbia’s hold over the northern regions of Kosovo.
The relationship between Vucic and Veselinovic (“ex” - business partner to Berat Buzhala) is particularly concerning. Investigations and exposés by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have revealed photographs and reports that illustrate a close relationship between the Vucic family and Veselinovic, a notorious figure in northern Kosovo's criminal underworld.
Veselinovic’s involvement in Buzhala’s business dealings suggests that the media mogul’s editorial direction is not driven solely by journalistic integrity but by more nefarious influences aimed at advancing Serbia’s geopolitical agenda.
Additionally, Buzhala himself has admitted to being observed by the Kosovar Intelligence Agency due to allegations of (“Being paid by Russia”) links with the Russian government. Given the volatile nature of Balkan politics and the historical involvement of external powers like Russia, such allegations cannot be taken lightly.
Buzhala’s editorial stance aligns suspiciously with Serbian narratives. His publications have consistently attacked Kosovo’s government policies, while giving Vucic’s authoritarian regime in Serbia a free pass. This editorial bias raises troubling questions about Buzhala’s true motivations and whether his media outlets are being used as tools to promote Serbia’s interests under the guise of independent journalism and so called ‘opposition’ voices.
Richard Grenell: The Diplomat Who Played Both Sides
Richard Grenell, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Donald Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence, who also served as Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, remains a controversial figure whose diplomatic style has consistently blurred the line between statecraft and self-interest. Grenell’s tenure in Germany was marked by scandal, not least because of his deep involvement with Germany’s far-right movement. His covert dealings with these groups were quietly revealed and later confirmed by German intelligence sources—an alarming revelation that underscored the undiplomatic behaviour which strained relations with the German government.
Grenell’s time in Germany was further defined by his aggressive attempts to interfere in the country’s domestic politics. His alignment with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been linked to both Russian and Chinese financial backers, cast a long shadow over his diplomatic mission. Many viewed his behaviour as a direct challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration, leading to significant friction within Germany’s political elite and ultimately contributing to his departure.
Der Spiegel later investigated the AfD and published a striking cover story using the word "Landesverräter" (traitor) to describe actions of the AfD that are arguably far more detrimental. Reports suggest that the AfD's financial ties extend to receiving funds from Russian and Chinese sources, and more alarmingly, their manifesto is alleged to have been drafted in Moscow.
Approximately a year and a half ago, it was disclosed that the Russian government had crafted a strategy aimed at bolstering the AfD's electoral prospects in Germany, according to Der Spiegel. The central tactic? To foster societal discord and propagate hate—a playbook that echoes the AfD's modus operandi. Evidence has surfaced of top AfD officials reciting segments from this manifesto, mirroring its language almost verbatim.
Grenell’s diplomatic interventions in the Balkans have proved even more damaging. As Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, he sought to broker economic agreements that disproportionately favoured Serbia, while applying intense pressure on Kosovo to make political and economic concessions. His actions—including threats to withdraw U.S. support for Kosovo if it did not comply with his demands, were widely seen as attempts to weaken Kosovo’s negotiating position and embolden Serbia.
Most troubling are the allegations of Grenell’s financial entanglements with Kremlin-linked oligarchs. Investigations by ProPublica and The Washington Post have exposed his lobbying efforts and questionable financial ties to figures such as Vladimir Plahotniuc, a Moldovan pro-Russian oligarch with direct connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Grenell’s proximity to these actors raises serious concerns about whether his diplomatic efforts were compromised by his own financial interests. His actions, whether motivated by personal gain or ideological alignment, closely aligned with Russia’s geopolitical strategy in the region, particularly its support for Serbia’s influence over Kosovo.
It is widely known in the Balkans that Grenell is a paid Serbian lobbyist. His financial entanglements with Serbian interests are so deep that he even publicly marked "Vidovdan," a pivotal date in Serbian history commemorated by Slobodan Milosevic’s infamous speech in Kosovo in the 1980s—a moment seen as the catalyst for the bloody war in Kosovo. Yet, Buzhala seem to be standing for Grenell.
Buzhala and Grenell: A Dangerous Alliance
In October 2024, Berat Buzhala published an article that strongly defended Richard Grenell’s role in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, further revealing the ideological and political alignment between these two figures. In the piece, Buzhala contrasted Grenell with another former U.S. ambassador, Chris Hill, who had been widely criticized for apologizing to Serbia for NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign. Buzhala painted Grenell as the more effective and trustworthy diplomat, ignoring the overwhelming evidence of Grenell’s ties to far-right extremists and his troubling financial connections to Kremlin-linked figures.
Buzhala’s endorsement of Grenell is not an isolated incident—it is part of a broader narrative that aligns with Serbian and Russian geopolitical interests. By promoting Grenell as a figure who could “solve” the Kosovo-Serbia conflict, Buzhala is supporting a diplomatic approach that would see Kosovo forced into economic subjugation to Serbia. This narrative conveniently overlooks the fact that Grenell’s actions have consistently favoured Serbia’s position, undermining Kosovo’s sovereignty at every turn.
The timing of Buzhala’s support for Grenell is also significant. Kosovo is facing increasing pressure from Serbia, which is emboldened by its alliances with both Russia and China. In this tense geopolitical environment, Buzhala’s media outlets have become amplifiers for pro-Serbian narratives, attacking the Kurti government and downplaying the threat posed by Vučić’s increasingly authoritarian rule. By aligning himself with Grenell, Buzhala has placed himself firmly on the side of those who would see Kosovo reduced to a client state of Serbia.
The Kremlin’s Balkan Strategy: How Grenell and Buzhala Fit In
To fully grasp the implications of this alliance, we must look at the broader geopolitical context. Russia’s interest in the Balkans is part of a larger strategy to destabilise NATO and the European Union. Serbia, which has maintained strong historical and political ties to Russia, plays a central role in this strategy. By supporting Vucic’s government and its efforts to keep Kosovo in a state of limbo, Russia is able to maintain a foothold in the region and prevent Kosovo from fully integrating into Western political and security structures.
Grenell’s actions in the Balkans have dovetailed with this strategy. His efforts to undermine Kosovo’s tariffs on Serbian goods, his opposition to Kosovo’s legitimate grievances in the dialogue process, and his close ties to pro-Serbian figures like Vucic all point to a diplomat whose agenda was less about peace building and more about advancing Serbia’s—and by extension, Russia’s—interests.
The fact that Buzhala, a media mogul with deep connections to Serbian political and criminal networks, has thrown his support behind Grenell only reinforces this narrative. By using his media platform to promote Grenell’s policies, Buzhala is helping to normalise a discourse that is fundamentally opposed to Kosovo’s national security and its aspirations for full integration into the international community.
A Warning for Kosovo’s Future
As Kosovo navigates its precarious position in the Balkans, the roles of figures like Berat Buzhala and Richard Grenell cannot be dismissed as mere political posturing. Their actions, whether through media manipulation or diplomatic intervention, represent a direct threat to Kosovo’s national security and democratic future. Buzhala’s embrace of Grenell is more than just a troubling endorsement—it is part of a larger, coordinated effort to destabilise Kosovo and strengthen Serbia’s control over the region.
In an era where the lines between journalism, diplomacy, and foreign influence are increasingly blurred, the relationship between Buzhala and Grenell serves as a stark reminder of the dangers Kosovo faces. The evidence is clear: Buzhala’s media empire is being used to amplify pro-Serbian narratives, while Grenell’s diplomatic actions have consistently undermined Kosovo’s standing in the international community. If these forces are allowed to continue unchecked, Kosovo risks losing not just its political sovereignty but its ability to control its own destiny.
This alliance between Berat Buzhala and Richard Grenell, intertwined with Serbia’s and Russia’s strategic interests, represents an existential threat to Kosovo’s national security. The media apparatus under Buzhala’s control, influenced by criminal networks and external powers, is not merely a platform for opposition voices—it is a conduit for dangerous narratives that undermine Kosovo's sovereignty and embolden its adversaries. As Grenell’s troubling diplomatic entanglements and Buzhala’s alignment with pro-Serbian agendas continue to gain traction, Kosovo faces a critical juncture. The Republic of Kosovo and its security apparatus must act decisively, leveraging every available resource to curtail this malign influence before it is too late. Failure to confront these forces now could lead to an erosion of democratic institutions and jeopardise the country’s future as an independent, sovereign state. The time to safeguard Kosovo's stability and protect its national interests is now.