Lavrov and Zakharova disinform about the alleged persecution of Serbs in Kosovo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the spokesperson of this department, Maria Zakharova, have spread disinformation about the alleged “persecution of Serbs” from Kosovo, drawing unfounded parallels with the situation in the Donbass. Lavrov said that the persecution of Serbs could be compared to the “Nazi persecution of Russians in the Donbass”, while Zakharova accused Western countries of giving Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti a “free hand” for the alleged “ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Kosovo ”.

Lavrov said:

“The persecution of Serbs from Kosovo is similar to the Nazi persecution of the Russian population from the Donbass, which was carried out by the Ukrainian authorities.

Ethnic cleansing as pure as tears. Thank God they are trying to expel the Serbs from Kosovo even without serious military conflict. Using various bureaucratic methods, Serbs are being quietly expelled from the southern Serbian province.”

Zakharova said:

“The responsibility for the crisis that Prishtina is instigating in Kosovo and for the failure to solve the problem lies with the Western countries.” In fact, the so-called Prime Minister Albin Kurti is brutally expelling the Serbs living in Kosovo and from their homeland, using a whole arsenal of repressive instruments and intimidation measures.”

Analysis:

Lavrov and Zakharova are trying to spread the same propaganda as Serbia about the alleged persecution and ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Kosovo. Their disinformation statements come at the same time as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his subordinates in Serbia are using threatening language against Kosovo

While Lavrov uses the expression “bureaucratic method” to show that Kosovo is trying to expel the Serbs, in reality it is only about the implementation of the law and the establishment of the rule of law throughout the territory.

A few days ago, the Kosovo police closed several facilities of Serbia’s parallel municipalities that continued to operate in Kosovo. According to the Brussels agreements between Kosovo and Serbia, these parallel structures are expected to be eradicated, but official Belgrade uses these actions of the police to propagate that the police are persecuting Serbian citizens.

There is no international report stating that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo are being violated. In fact, the report, which was prepared by Council of Europe officials who were in Kosovo to monitor respect for human rights, states that Kosovo’s constitution is one of the most progressive in terms of minority rights.

The authorities in Kosovo are trying to integrate the Serb community as much as possible into Kosovo’s institutions by closing the parallel structures through legal processes that are part of the internationally recognized legal framework.

Kosovo has repeatedly emphasized that the goal is the integration of Serbs into Kosovar society and not their persecution.

/The Geopost