Title: Kremlin Closely Monitoring “Potentially Dangerous” Situation in Kosovo
Date: September 25, 2023
The Kremlin expressed its concern on Monday over a “potentially dangerous” situation in Kosovo, where ethnic Serb gunmen stormed a village and barricaded themselves into a monastery. The Russian government, which does not recognize Kosovo as an independent country, holds close religious and cultural ties with Serbia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the tense atmosphere and biased attitude towards the Serbs in Kosovo. He emphasized that the situation is being closely monitored by Russia. The overall situation is described as extremely difficult and potentially dangerous.
Yesterday, Kosovar police units successfully retook the monastery after a violent clash between the attackers and law enforcement. Unfortunately, three attackers and one police officer lost their lives in the process. The police are currently working to secure the village in northern Kosovo.
Kosovo, with a population of 1.8 million, is predominantly composed of ethnic Albanians. However, approximately 50,000 Serbs in the northern region have never accepted Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. They still consider Belgrade as their capital, maintaining their allegiance to Serbia even after more than two decades since a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla uprising against Serbian rule.
In response to the incident, Russia’s Foreign Ministry released a statement blaming Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for the bloodshed. The ministry accused Kurti of fueling further conflict and pushing for the cleansing of Kosovo’s territory from Serbs. They claimed that Kurti’s actions were aimed at increasing pressure on Serbs to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
The situation in Kosovo remains tense, as underlying ethnic tensions and political divisions continue to simmer. It is crucial for international stakeholders to closely monitor developments and work towards finding a peaceful resolution to avoid further escalation.
Reporting by Gareth Jones and Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan