Russia did not recognize the expulsion of two diplomats from unrecognized Kosovo.
The Russian Embassy in Serbia did not recognize the decision of the Kosovo authorities to declare diplomats working in the self-proclaimed republic persona non grata on Russian territory. About it informs TASS with reference to the press service of the Russian diplomatic mission.
The embassy noted that Russia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, therefore, the decisions made in Pristina “do not have the right force.”
“On the basis of Resolution 1244 of the Security Council, the UN is cooperating with the Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), including on this issue,” the embassy spokesman said.
Earlier, the president of the unrecognized republic, Vjosa Osmani, announced the expulsion of two employees of the office of the Russian Embassy in Serbia, working in Pristina. Osmani said the activities of Russian diplomats allegedly endangered Kosovo’s “national security and constitutional order.”
The situation in Kosovo escalated on October 13, as local special forces used weapons against protesters in the predominantly Serb city of Kosovska Mitrovica. The last streets that took to the streets after the “anti-smuggling” raid, during which the security forces demanded from entrepreneurs in local pharmacies and retail outlets documents for goods and customs declarations according to the pattern established by Pristina. As a result of the shooting, several dozen Serbs were injured, one received a serious gunshot wound.
In response to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova demanded that the NATO contingent in Kosovo pacify the “Kosovo Albanian leaders.” She called on NATO allies to “fulfill their mandate” over the self-proclaimed republic.
The Kosovo parliament declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. 97 out of 193 UN members, including 22 out of 27 EU members, recognize it as a state. Russia believes that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence violated the principle of international and the sovereignty of Serbia, and also created a dangerous precedent for the system of international relations.