Zakharova disinforms that “Orthodox churches in Kosovo don’t have protection”

Russia’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova once again addressed disinformation about Kosovo. In a conversation with journalists on 31 January, Zakharova this time addressed the Serbian churches in Kosovo and misinformed that the institutions in Pristina want to “erase” the traces of the Serbs’ presence and albanize their identity, which they have had for centuries.

She also claimed that it was allegedly due to lack of care and persecution of the monuments of Serbian Orthodoxy.

What Zakharova said:

“Prishtina is trying to rewrite history by violating Serbian holy sites. “Kosovo authorities, allowing provocations against Serbian holy sites in the province, are trying to rewrite history,” the official representative of the Russian Federation’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said, according to TASS.

She pointed out that the provocations had become systematic, reflecting the far-reaching policy of the regional “authorities” to expel the Orthodox population in order to create a “purely ethnic Albanian bridge”.

Zakharova emphasized that “today’s Prishtina and the preservation of monuments are incompatible concepts”.

Analysis:

The Serbian Orthodox Church and Orthodox buildings, as well as these other monuments, are protected by a special law of the Republic of Kosovo. Orthodox religious buildings are also guarded by the Kosovo Police, and the police officers in these buildings are mostly Serbs. In addition, the Constitution of Kosovo gives the highest guarantee in Europe for the preservation of these monuments.

LAW ON SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREAS

Article 1

Purpose of the Law

This law shall ensure protection of Serbian Orthodox Monasteries, Churches, other religious sites, as well

as historical and cultural sites of special significance for the Kosovo Serb community, as well as other

communities in Republic of Kosova, through the establishment of Special Protective Zones.

Article 7

Classification of Special Protective Zones

7.1 Special Protective Zones shall be defined for the following sites, as in the attached maps:

a) Visoki Dečani Monastery, Deçan/ Dečani (this Special Protective Zone is identical to the previously established Special Zoning Area);

b) Peć Patriarchate, Pejë/Peć;

c) Gračanica Monastery, Prishtinë/ Priština;

d) Church of Presentation of the Virgin, Lipjan/Lipljan;

e) Devič Monastery, Skenderaj/ Srbica;

f) Gorioč Monastery, Istog/Istok;

g) Budisavci Monastery, Klinë /Klina;

h) Sokolica Monastery, Zveçan /Zvečan;

i) Draganac Monastery, Gjilan/ Gnjilane;

j) Holy Archangels Monastery, Prizren/Prizren;

k) Banjska Monastery, Zveçan / Zvečan;

l) Zočište Monastery, Zoqishtë/ Zočište , Rahovec/Orahovac;

m) Village of Velika Hoča/ Hoçë e Madhe, Rahovec/Orahovac;

n) Duboki Potok Monastery, Zubin Potok/Zubin Potok;

o) Church of Saint George, Gornje Selo/Gornjasellë, Prizren/Prizren;

p) Sočanica Monastery, Leposaviq/ Leposavić;

q) Hermitage with Church, Uljarice, Klinë /Klina; and

r) Hermitage of Saint Peter of Koriša, Korishë/ Koriša, Prizren/ Prizren.

7.2 The Special Protective Zone for Sokolica Monastery Zveçan /Zvečan and the Isa Boletini Memorial Complex are Special Protective Zones as in the attached map.

https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=2529

This misinformation is a special game used by the Foreign Ministry of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church in countries where there are Orthodox objects, especially Kosovo.

/G. Venhari, The Geopost