Raskrinkavanje.me is a fact-checking project developed by Center for Democratic Transition (CDT). Raskrinkavanje is a distinct team within the organization, with its own organizational and editorial structure, focused solely on fact-checking. 

More on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/ and https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/impressum/. 

CDT is a legal entity registered in the register of NGOs in Montenegro. More information about the CDT is available at https://en.cdtmn.org/our-organization/. 

Documents regarding registration and legal representation as well as the Statute of the CDT are available on the same link.

Raskrinkavanje is a distinct unit within a legally registered organization. Details of this are easily found on its website.

1) Fact checking work on our platform started in September 2018, with the goal to oppose media manipulation, increase the quality of media content, media literacy of readers and respect for professional standards on the media scene.

2) We currently have 8 staff who are constantly working on Raskrinkavanje.me. Raskrinkavanje.me has editor-in-chief and a project coordinator (manager), four journalists / researchers and two people doing more complex research, analysis and publications. In addition, we hire 4 more external associates, who occasionally contribute to our research work.

3) Raskrinkavanje.me researches and publishes fact-checks. In addition to the evaluations of individual media publications, we periodically prepare summary analyses of the situation regarding media manipulations in the areas of international and regional policies, human rights and democracy, which are suspected of containing inaccurate information, misinformation, false news or other forms of manipulation. We also provide trainings in fact-checking and media literacy. Publisher of Raskrinkavanje, CDT, as an advocacy NGO engages in advocacy for better media environment, legislation and policies to counter disinformation etc.  etc.

4) Our primary goals are counteracting media manipulations, increasing the quality of media content, media literacy of readers and respecting professional standards on the media scene. Our focus in the previous period was on the fake news regarding pandemic of coronavirus, and it will stay one of the main topics as long as it is the topic of conspiracy theories and fake news.  

The unit is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking, with the goal to oppose media manipulation and increase the quality of media content and media literacy.

In the period of the last six months Raskrinkavanje.me published at least 300 articles debunking disinformation (at least 10 debunks per week). All our debunks can be found here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/raskrinkano/ 

Six months prior to the date of application, the applicant has published an average of 11.9 fact-checks a week, i.e. 1.7 fact-checks a day, which is a significant increase compared to the last year (one fact-check a day).

On average, at least 96% of the applicant’s fact-checks focus on claims related to issues that, in the view of the IFCN, relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public, or society. Fact-checks are mainly around topics of the war in Ukraine (with a special focus on the impact that war has / can have in the region), the coronavirus, and topics related to national intolerance and tensions, political topics, and similar.

There is no financial, commercial or institutional relationship between our organization and any politician or political party. We are maintaining good communication with politicians or political parties for the sake of good analyses with the answers we are getting from them for our stories. 

CDT, founder of Raskrinkavanje, being election monitoring organization and member of GNDEM, also maintains strict non-partisanship. https://gndem.org/declaration-of-global-principles/. CDT is maintaining professional relations with all political parties, and vas majority of the political spectrum perceive it as a non-biased organization.  

Raskrinkavanje.me was funded in 2021 through the support of the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) in the amount of $ 39,998 for the project Combating the coronavirus and postcovid infodemic in Montenegro. We also received support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in the amount of $ 24,000 for the Fostering improved media standards project. Through Facebook's fact-checking program, we earned € 128,481.48 net for the previous calendar year. None of these sources is a state or political actor.

The applicant’s editorial output is not, in the view of the IFCN, controlled by the state, a political party, or a politician.

Our organization is completely neutral and our funders have no influence our editorial content or decision making. Our safeguards at every level of our organization ensure our neutrality. We have very strong restrictions on staff political activity, fundraising safeguards, conflict of interest policy, feedback processes, external reviews, and more. 

First, when choosing the claims that we analyze, the funders or any external actors have no say because Rakrinkavanje analyzes articles and publications that are in the public interest. Raskrinkavanje does not analyze private posts on social networks and posts that are not in the public interest, and this is clearly defined by our methodology available here https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija/.

We always provide links to all sources in our debunk articles so that everyone can, at anytime, check for themselves credibility of our analyses. Ultimately, it is for our audience to judge for themselves whether we succeed—we would encourage readers to judge our individual fact checks and our body of work as a whole.

The applicant does not receive funding from state or political sources at the moment. However, the applicant does provide a statement on its site setting out to the satisfaction of the IFCN, that it ensures its funders do not influence the findings of its reports.

Raskrinkavanje covers wide range of topics, international and regional politics, human rights and democracy, as well as publications of special public importance. In the previous year majority of our work and focus was to the infodemic (coronavirus pandemic influenced fake news).

In our selection of articles for analysis, we do not target any media, we target news. News from media outlets, TV stations, or social networks such as Facebook profiles. We are looking into suspicious news that have big outreach, that are viral on social media. Only after the fact-checking is done, we look for all media that published the false information. Covering these topics in our analysis we use rankings from clickbait to Fake news to mark selected post/article.

Raskrinkavanje has the same, non-partisan approach to all issues covered in our analysis. In the previous year we covered topics that involved, or had as a topic, various politicians from different parties. Approach in all the analysis is always the same, sources are visible in all of them, and given to readers to access.

We do not discriminate against the media in relation to editorial policy, and treat disinformation equally, whether it is published in pro-Western or anti-Western, pro-government or pro-opposition media. As we do not monitor any individual media, but the entirety of (dis)information space, you will notice that most of our articles actually refer to more than one outlet. Examples: 

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/u-zvanicne-posjete-crnoj-gori-dolazili-su-brojni-srpski-zvanicnici/ (RTCG, public broadcaster, pro-Government)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/blagoslov-za-sotonu-viralno-i-netacno/ (CDM, Portal Analitika, Aktuelno, AntenaM, pro-Western, pro-opposition)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/falsifikat-gardijan-nije-priznao-ukrajinsku-krivicu-za-bucu/ (In4s, pro-Serbian, pro-Russian)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analize/hronologija-dezinformisanja-slucaj-molotovljevog-koktela/ (Vijesti, pro-Western, pro-Government)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/rusko-ministarstvo-nije-namontiralo-grb-crne-gore-u-navaljnijev-film/ (Pobjeda, pro-Western, pro-opposition)

When we deal with misinformation targeting political figures or parties, we treat public officials, representatives of ruling and opposition parties in the same way. Examples: 

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/boskovic-nije-govorio-o-slanju-vojske-na-istocni-front-vec-u-sastav-snaga-nato/ (target: Predrag Bošković, MP, DPS)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/abazovic-nije-predlozio-zabranu-nepodobnih-medija/ (target: Dritan Abazović, the then Deputy Prime Minister, URA)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/draginja-na-meti-losih-fora-i-manipulacija/ (target: Draginja Vuksanović Stanković. MP, SDP)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/haos-na-balkanu-i-sta-premijer-albanije-nije-rekao/ (target: Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/cankov-satiricni-govor-predstavili-kao-nacionalisticki-ispad/ (target: Nenad Čanak, MP from Serbia)

https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/zasto-je-aleksandar-vulin-u-crnoj-gori/ (target: Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Defence of Serbia)

All our debunks are available at https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analize/. 

The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgment for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim.

The platform monitors texts published in online media, social networks as well as print media and major news television shows in Montenegro. Our team of journalists and researchers read and analyze media and content on social networks on a daily basis, with a special focus on viral publications whose accuracy is questionable. We follow the announcements and texts, through which we reach the media, whose list is updated daily on our site. Suspicious news is also reported to us by citizens - they have the opportunity to do so on our website as well as through our communication channels (Facebook and Twitter profile of Raskrinkavanje).

We tend to from time to time conduct campaigns inviting citizens to report to us any news they find suspicious.

As of August 2020, Raskrinkavanje is Facebook’s partner for Montenegro, as part of their Third Party Fact-Checking program. Facebook users are now enabled to report content that they suspect is fake directly through that network - tagged content enters the system to which Raskrinkavanje has direct access. Through this we also receive many anonymized reports from users, which supports greatly our mission to debunk false information that affect citizens.

More about our methodology read here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija 

The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, considers the reach and importance of claims it selects to check, and publishes a statement on its website to set out how it selects claims to check.

Based on the assessed sample of work, the applicant did not face a need to disclose relevant interests of the sources it quotes nor to disclose any commercial or other such relationships it has.

The applicant is not affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any party, any politician, or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate.

Nonpartisanship as a policy is strictly prescribed primarily in the acts of the founder of Raskrinkavanje.me, the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT). The statute stipulates that a member of the CDT can only be a person who is not party-affiliated in any way and is politically neutral in all activities, refraining from public support to any candidate, political party, group, movement or other association that participates in elections or referendums (https://www.cdtmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Statut-CDT-a-CG.pdf). These rules also apply to Raskrinkavanje employees, and are strictly applied in the recruitment and selection process.

Raskrinkavanje complies with the Code of Journalists of Montenegro and international standards of professional journalism. Our journalists and researchers must not be partisan or participate in any election or any other advocacy campaign that could cause a real or apparent conflict of interest.

Our non-partisanship policy, including its application on staffing, can be found on this link https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/. 

The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site. Save for the issues of accuracy and transparency, the applicant’s staff does not get involved in advocacy or publicize their views on policy issues the applicant might fact-check in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the applicant’s work as biased.

The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in their fact-checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish.

The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available.

The applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant to the topic.

Based on the assessed sample of work, the applicant did not face a need to disclose relevant interests of the sources it uses so the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

Raskrinkavanje.me is a fact-checking project developed by Center for Democratic Transition (CDT). CDT is a legal entity registered in the register of NGOs in Montenegro. More on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/

The scanned copy of the Decision on the Registration is in the attachment. 

Raskrinkavanje is a distinct unit of a legally registered organization. Names of donors (sources of funding) and project values are published on the parent organization’s website.

Ownership is stated in the first sentence in About us section on Raskrinkavanje.me website https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/. 

Raskrinkavanje is a distinct unit of a legally registered organization, information of which can easily be found on the applicant’s website. Details of their funding are published on the parent organization’s website.

Information about Raskrinkavanje’s team is published in our Impressum on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/impressum/  

A page on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear by whom editorial control is exercised.

Names and biographies of our journalists, editors and staff that work on Raskrinkavanje project is on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/impressum                            

A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure, play a significant part in its editorial output.

Contact information with email addresses and phone numbers where any interested user can contact us are stated in our Impressum section here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/impressum/.

The section that invites readers to report an article is available in the main menu, which can already be seen on the front page. Section is on this link https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/prijavite-clanak/. 

Readers also contact us often through other communication channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

Those information are listed in our ‘Methodology’ section here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija/.  

The applicant provides easy means on its website and via social media for users to communicate with the editorial team.

Raskrinkavanje platform aims to combat media misinformation, which we recognize in the growing trend of spreading inaccurate information presented as facts, placing false and unverified news, and various forms of violating the basic postulates of the journalistic profession that should ensure independent, objective and truthful information to the public. Our methodology is available here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija/                             

The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research and publish its fact-checks.

The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and where possible explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.

The applicant sets out in its fact-checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it when needed.

The applicant in its fact-checks assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.

In a randomized sample of fact-checks, there was no obvious need for the applicant to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, as they already checked other available sources.

There’s a dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on Rasrkinkavanje.me website. It is on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/prijavite-clanak/.  

Apart from the website, our readers are sending us suspicious news on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or our email addresses that are also visible on the website here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/impressum/. 

In addition, all users of the social network Facebook are enabled to report content that they suspect is fake directly through that network - tagged content enters the system to which Raskrinkavanje has direct access. Facebook also has its own algorithm that suggests suspicious or problematic news.

Raskrinkavanje platform analyzes articles and publications that are in the public interest. Raskrinkavanje does not analyze private posts on social networks and posts that are not in the public interest. When selecting the publications we analyze, Raskrinkavanje gives priority to publications concerning international and regional policy, human rights and democracy, as well as publications of special public importance. This is explained in the Methodology section of our website (2. Izbor članaka) https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija/#1618314703202-1101449b-e18a.  

The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.


If it is determined that we have misjudged the media report and / or based our rating on misinformation, we will publicly acknowledge mistake and correct it. The mistake is corrected by correcting the disputed part and / or grade in the original analysis, and a prominent note is added to the text of the analysis that the analysis was subsequently changed. Resolving complaints is usually done within one business day, unless additional verification is required which may take longer than that. It is explained here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/.

Also, our ratings of Facebook posts may be challenged by the publisher, or the publisher may correct inaccurate published information, in accordance with the Facebook rules and procedures. We answer on the complaints from the publisher no later than 24 hours after we got the complaint on the email address that is published on our website in part called ‘’Facebook program’’ Publisher can view how the correction for the Facebook marking can be made on this link: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/metodologija/#1619444262199-739e863c-b75f. 

The applicant has a corrections policy that is easily visible and accessible on its website.

The corrections policy sets out a clear definition of how mistakes, including those requiring revised conclusions of a fact-check, are handled.

We continue to adhere to our corrections policy at all times by encouraging feedback or enquiry from users to all our fact-checks and making clear that there are channels where this can be done. At Raskrinkavanje, we believe that corrections are an effective tool for underpinning accountability and transparency.

During the previous year, we had no substantiated complaints about the accuracy of our articles, on the basis of which we would change our ratings. But we have had many cases in which the media approached us with a request to correct the ratings, after they themselves corrected their publications that we assessed to be untrue.

Regional portals published the claim that sharks were filmed on the Montenegrin coast. Raskrinkavanje contacted experts from the Montenegrin Institute of Marine Biology, who confirmed to us that these are not sharks but a harmless species of swordfish. Portal Republika corrected the wrong claims and addressed us, after which Raskrinkavanje noted the correction. https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/mediji-opet-vide-ajkule-u-crnogorskom-moru/ 

Numerous Montenegrin portals reported a statement falsely attributed to the Russian Patriarch Kirill that Ukraine must be destroyed like the Nazi Reich. Portal Analitika contacted us with the information that, using the ethical standard of professional behavior of journalists, it denied the initial allegations. Raskrinkavanje.me noted this and published their correction. https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/kiril-nije-rekao-da-ukrajinu-treba-unistiti-kao-nacisticki-rajh/ 

Portal Alo published the incorrect claim that the US embassy in Moscow projected the cover of Time magazine from the time of the NATO intervention in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia onto its walls. Raskrinkavanje.me received confirmation from the State Department that the embassy did not project that image, nor does the State Department have any information about it. Portal Alo corrected the incorrect statements, and we noted it in the article. https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/analiza/ambasada-sad-u-moskvi-nije-projektovala-naslovnicu-tajma/ 

The applicants stated in the assessment that, in the previous year, it had no cases of a mistake worthy of correction (no one reported it). On the other hand, there were cases in which the media approached the applicant with a request to correct the ratings after they themselves corrected the publications (after being the object of fact-checks). The applicant did corrections fair while explaining them to users.

Information about complaints regarding the IFCN Code can be found in the section "About us" section here: https://www.raskrinkavanje.me/o-nama/

The applicant on its corrections page, where it also declares itself an IFCN signatory, informs users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.

Not applicable (we are a project of a NGO, not a media company). 

N/A

(The applicant is not the fact-checking unit of a media company.)