Toosovo accused an employee of the UN mission from Russia of “malicious activities” The activities of a Russian employee of the UN Mission for the Interim Administration of partially recognized Kosovo violate the security of the republic, the Foreign Ministry said. In autumn, the authorities decided to expel two Russian diplomats
Kosovo has recognized the Russian employee of the UN Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK) of the partially recognized republic as persona non grata, Foreign Minister Donika Gervala said on Facebook.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, demanded to do this because of the “malicious activity” of a Russian, which violates the national security of the republic, the minister said. Gervala did not give any other details, including the name of the diplomat.
The Foreign Minister promised that Kosovo will continue to cooperate with its international allies, primarily the United States, the EU and NATO, “to prevent any destabilizing efforts of the Russian Federation in the region.”
RBC has contacted the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Russia does not recognize Kosovo as a separate state, the Russian diplomatic chancellery operates in Pristina, which is a subdivision of the embassy in Belgrade. Moscow is also cooperating with the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
In October, the Kosovo Foreign Ministry declared two Russian diplomats persona non grata at the request of the head of the Republic, Vyosa Osmani. She explained this by saying that they violated national security and constitutional order. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Osmani’s decision does not entail consequences for the legal status of diplomats. The Russian Embassy in Belgrade called the actions of Kosovo provocation.
After the diplomats left the territory of Kosovo, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Moscow condemns “such destructive behavior” of the authorities of the republic.
Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, before that it was an autonomous republic within Serbia. Kosovo has been recognized by most EU countries and more than a hundred UN member states. Serbia, China, Israel, Iran, Spain, Greece and a number of other countries do not recognize Kosovo as a separate State.
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