Kurti accuses "Russia's allies" of undermining the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

2023-09-06 11:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti accuses "Russia's allies" of undermining the Kosovo-Serbia

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accused "Russia's allies" that through disinformation and other malicious behavior in the cyber field, they are influencing the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

During the "Open Government Partnership" summit in Tallinn, Estonia, Kurti said that these actions in Kosovo are intensifying.

"In Kosovo, efforts by Russia's allies to distort the truth, past and present, are visible and intensifying. During the sensitive time, when our country is committed to the process mediated by the European Union and the United States to normalize relations with our northern neighbor, Serbia, but also for the full inclusion of minorities in the democratic processes of the state, without influence from abroad, these cyber threats, such as disinformation, cyber bullying and other forms are particularly defining," said Kurti.

Even in the past, the authorities in Kosovo have accused Russia of pushing its ally, Serbia, to incite tensions in Kosovo, namely in the north inhabited by a Serbian majority. However, these claims have been rejected by the Kremlin. Also, the United States and the European Union have repeatedly warned about Russian influence in the Western Balkans.

In an earlier report by the Kosovo Center for Security Studies, it was stated that Russia's influence in Kosovo can be interpreted as "malicious" and "hostile". However, the report said that Russian influence operations "are mainly limited to Kosovo Serbs".

Kurti's comments on September 6 come days after Kosovo's president, Vjosa Osmani, said, without providing evidence, that Serbia intends to implement a plan similar to the one Russia implemented in Ukraine in 2014.

She referred to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the support of pro-Russian separatists in their fight against Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbass region. Since 2011, Kosovo and Serbia hold a dialogue for the full normalization of relations, under the mediation of the European Union. The new round of dialogue is expected to take place on September 14, after months of rising tensions between the two countries.

Tensions rose at the end of February in the north of Kosovo, as Serbian residents living in that area are opposing the new Albanian mayors. The central authorities have recently taken steps that would enable the dismissal of municipal mayors through a petition./ Rel