Mitrovica's northern Serbs, hopes on Russia and Vladimir Putin (Photo)

Across the streets of the city, they wave Russian and Serbian flags, meanwhile Putin's portrait of buildings, or even presented through inscriptions, broadcast deregulating messages of the Serbian-Russian alliance.

Some northern Serb citizens see Russia as Serbia's only ally.

Miroslav Laketiq of northern Mitrovica expresses the opinion that the Serbian-Russian alliance is completely natural.

This is a commonly known thing. Serbia has always been at the crossroads of Western and East interests, and this will continue to be so further. Unlike the West, Russia has never caused us any trouble, has not endangered our security and self - worth”.

They're our traditional friends. We hope Russia will remain on this road again. Strong Russia also means a strong Serbia. When Russia is weak, then it will not help Serbia, just as it has happened to the mad Jelcin”, Laketiq says.

Similar sentiments include Bosanka Prodanovic, Serbian from northern Mitrovica. She says the people in northern Mitrovica, mainly, hope in Russia's support:

We have enough feelings that Russia and Putin exist. That's enough. I expect everything positive from them. The people here, mainly, believe in Russia, because we do not know what is being discussed in Brussels”.

With this readiness of citizens in northern Mitrovica, it should not be surprised why Serbian List leader Goran Rakiq, along with the head of the Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo, Marko Djurovic, has decided that before local elections in Kosovo, which will be held on October 22nd, has gone to Moscow to get advice.

But, the security issue connoisseur from northern Mitrovica, Veroljub Petroniq, from the non-governmental organisation “Human Centre in Mitrovica”, suggests that the confession of Russia's aid to Serbs in Kosovo, which was given momentum, is imaginary and becomes more for propaganda. According to him, such help does not exist.

Petronic says he has long ago attended an international security conference in Sochi, China. The conversations he had made there with Russian representatives, he says, have led to interesting conclusions.

I've had a chance to talk to a Russian deputy who has just opened my eyes and landed. He told me their list of interests is in the 17th place. He told me that his state is a country bordering 19 states and has 12 seas out. As I was told, Armenia, Gruzia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and others are a host of their problems. So we're in 17th place for them”.

“Madje, told me that Montenegro, before entering NATO, has been a range or a greater area of interest to them than Serbia. This, as he told me, for the simple reason that it would be enough for the entire Black Sea fleet to go twice a year to Tivar, to get water for ships and submarines, parade across the Adriatic and show force”, Petronic says.

But such reserves to Russia, like Petronici's, can hardly be found in northern Mitrovica.

Jova Jovanovic from this municipality says Russia cannot see it differently, except as a friend of Serbs.

“Ruses i experience as friends. They are our best friends for hundreds of years, not just now. The one holding back Russia, he is the biggest enemy of the Serbian people. They always help us without any request for compensation. Those in the West are asking for help only when they are interested in”, says Jovanovic.

But has Russian support for the Serbian List come at the right time, when, with Belgrade's permission, this list has decided to support the Government of Kosovo, at the helm of which Ramush Haradinaj is charged with war crimes?

However, northern Serbs reason on the Serbian List action. Bosanka Prodanovic gives such reasoning:

“We have been against the Serbian List to enter Haradinaj's government. But if Putin said that and if our government says so openly, then something will come out of this”.

Confidence in Russia's willingness to sacrifice for Serbia's benefit, in northern Mitrovica, is neither myth nor historical subject.

Smiljana Jovanovic, Serbian from North Mitrovica, believes that.

You see how they help the army, equipment, and so much”, says Jovanovic.

Serbian-Russian military co-operation has taken off, against the balance policy, which the government promotes in Serbia. However, for many Serbs in northern Mitrovica, such a thing deepens hopes that Russia will continue supporting the achievement of the goal, for Kosovo to be part of Serbia.