QKSS research: Russia intervenes in Kosovo

The Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS) has published today's comprehensive report “Russia's Intervention of Kosovo: how and why? ”, stressing that Kosovo is exposed to a broad campaign the growing impact of Russian intervention against the Western statehood model and its democratic values, especially since 2008.

This report is prepared by author Pellumb Kalaba-high foreign researcher at the QKSS, where the report is said to have been designed in order to provide a holistic analysis on a matter of particular importance for Kosovo, such as Russian presence and its impact on international developments in the country.

The research finds that many subversive and non-military instruments will continue to be used against Kosovo's multiethnic character in order to create excuses for a failed state, and to increase local separatism within the Serb community in northern municipalities.

“Raport aims to de-construct Russian foreign policy behaviour chronologically, especially since Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin's first visit to Kosovo on 17 June 2001 made the Russian military contingent. Also, the highlighted space has been dedicated to the Kosovo Government's decision on sanctions against Russia in 2014, this unconfirmed decision further in proportion to harmonisation of EU and US sanctions. Consequently, sanctions against Russia have not resulted in efficiency as Russian economic subjects sanctioned but present in Serbia and the region, mainly including oil products, continue to operate on the Kosovo market. The QKSS finds that the European Union has not treated Kosovo equally as other Western Balkan countries in the process of harmonising and imposing sanctions on economic subjects and political authorities of the Russian Federation”, a communique of this centre is said.

The communique notes that during the January-July 2017 period, the level of Russian goods imported in Kosovo exceeds 10m euros, while Kosovo export figures to Russia remain zero.

This negative asymmetry is also proven in terms of the entrance/ex0s of Russian citizens. According to research, more than 1,000 Russian citizens visit Kosovo annually, while Kosovo citizens cannot travel to Russia due to the immediate rejection of passports. The report has underlined the paradox that the Kosovo visa regime privileged the holders of Russian diplomatic passports and service under the particular category excluded from visa requirements. The respective carriers are allowed to enter, spend or stay up to 15 days on Kosovo territory. The QKSS emphasises that this “Release” is a national security concern for Kosovo, so an amendment to the visa regime is necessary. As the number of Russian citizens visiting Kosovo increases, Russia's current role in Kosovo, in addition to the blockades at the international level, has been best shown on the instance of northern municipalities: ties between political parties from the Serbian community and President Putin's United Russia are constantly developing, while the establishment of the Serbian Communists Association can present new ground for stronger Russian commitment to boost local Serb separatism in Kosovo. The report has stressed that the religious factor represents an important element of Russian influence through the Serbian Orthodox Church. With political support given to religious institutions, Russia seeks to preserve and increase a strong emotional presence among the Serb community in Kosovo. The lack of adequate financial control in relation to the Serbian Orthodox Church budget creates opportunities for a divisive agenda and a potential misuse of this institutional gap, in the interest of Russia's commitment and strengthening their possible influence in Kosovo”, it is said in the communiqué.

The report has also stopped at the manufacture of real news news (face nine) through Russian media representatives in Serbia and the region in relation to Kosovo presents an extraordinary international challenge.

“Raport finds that a pro-Russian media presence in Serbia is an important card in spreading propaganda among Kosovo Serbs, including Sputnik and Russia Today. On the other hand, Serbia's so-called neutral position on NATO membership, along with the public's negative perception of the Western military alliance in Serbia, remains a serious concern for the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Western Balkans. The enigmatic operation of the so-called Russo-Serbe Humanitarian Centre, based in Nis since 2011, along with increased military and investment exercises between the two countries, should be considered a long-term threat to security not only for Kosovo but also for neighbouring countries. Finally, the report finds that Kosovo's central institutions are not adequately equipped to prevent Russian hybrid penetration through economic and political instruments intended to influence its policies in Kosovo, and that there is not even enough institutional awareness to pursue and understand Russian interests in the region.

As with the report, Kosovo has no sustainable strategy on how to address challenges in relation to bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relations with Russia.

It is noteworthy that the QKSS report has addressed a series of general recommendations that must be addressed by the Government of Kosovo, the European Union, civil society, media and the business community.