The photo of a Croatian MEP was photoshopped onto a banner from a student protest
- Objavljeno 21. oktobra 2025. u 12.56
- Za čitanje potrebno 3 minuta
- Od: Mina PEJAKOVIC, AFP Beograd
Copyright © AFP 2017-2025. Za svaku vrstu komercijalne upotrebe ovog sadržaja potrebna je pretplata. Kliknite ovde za više informacija.
Student-led anti-corruption protests in Serbia that started on November 2024 are a regular target of disinformation aimed at discrediting those taking part. Members and supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party like to label the participants as "Ustase" -- members of an extreme and fascist movement in Croatia before and during World War II. They also accuse them of being instrumentalised by Croatia to foment a regime change, or "colour revolution", in Serbia. In the latest such example of disinformation, a photo is being shared showing demonstrators holding a banner with an image of Croatian MEP Tonino Picula. However, the photo has been altered, as confirmed to AFP by the journalist who took the original.
"What is this? Is this even possible? Oh, children, children," reads the caption of a post published on X on August 29, 2025. The post features an image of protesters holding a large banner displaying the face of Croatian MEP Tonino Picula.
The photo was shared from an account that frequently posts disinformation in favour of the ruling SNS party and President Aleksandar Vucic. AFP has previously debunked content from this account, for example here and here.
"Does this child even know whose picture they’re holding? Do they know who this person is?" reads an Instagram caption accompanying the same image, which also circulated on Threads and TikTok.
Although several users in the comments pointed out that the photo had been altered, it continued to spread on social media alongside remarks such as: "What anti-Serbs!" and "Where are their parents? They have no idea about life. Such teachers, such children! Reform the education system, teach them about the suffering of the Serbian people, show them films about the Ustase and Nazism over and over again!"
However, an AFP investigation revealed that the image had been manipulated. The original photograph was taken by a journalist from the news portal Buka on the eve of a major rally in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, the portal confirmed to AFP.
The student protests, the largest since the 1990s, were sparked by the collapse of a canopy at the renovated railway station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, resulting in 16 deaths (archived here and here). The tragedy is widely seen as a symbol of long-standing corruption in institutions and public affairs.
Since May 2025, students have been demanding, among other things, early elections. President Aleksandar Vucic and his supporters have repeatedly accused them of being "paid agents" or manipulated by foreign powers, particularly Croatia, to launch a "colour revolution" against the government.
An important part of the anti-protest narrative is the claim that they are "Croatian Nazis," as several fact-checks have already shown like this one here.
This narrative has been reinforced by SNS supporters, who singled out Tonino Picula, a Croatian MEP and the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, who has often criticised the Serbian government over democratic backsliding, media freedom, and corruption.
As a result, pro-government tabloids routinely portray him as an "enemy of Serbia."
The attacks intensified after Picula marked the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm by posting a 1995 photo of himself in uniform with a rifle on X, calling the operation "a key moment in liberating Croatian territory."
For Serbia, Operation Storm represents mass expulsions and killings of Serbs — between 150,000 and 200,000 fled, with at least 1,900 killed — while in Croatia it is celebrated as a liberation victory.
Altered image
Extensive online research uncovered an article by the news portal "Buka" about students who walked, ran, and cycled to Belgrade ahead of the major protest on March 15, 2025.
The article also included a photo gallery from that day, which contains the same image that was later edited to include Tonino Picula’s face.
In the original photograph, the banner actually reads "GimVA pumpa."
"GimVA" stands for the Valjevo Gymnasium, while "Pumpaj" (Pump it up) is a symbolic chant of the movement, used by protesters to signify putting pressure on the government. This slogan frequently appears on many banners.
In an email dated September 8, 2025, Buka confirmed to AFP that the image circulating on social media had been altered and that it was originally photographed by a journalist on March 14, 2025 in Belgrade.
The email also included the original version of the photograph.
AFP has previously debunked misinformation related to the student protests, which you can read more about here.
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