Kosovo orders deportation of Russian diplomat, member of UN mission to Balkan country for national security reasons
Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz made the announcement on Facebook on December 31st.
“At the request of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, I issued a decision today to declare a Russian UNMIK official in Kosovo persona non grata because of his activities,” he said.
Gervalla-Schwarz said it had informed law enforcement about the decision. He did not name the Russian diplomat, nor did he say what the man allegedly did to deserve deportation.
UNMIK represents the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, which was established in 1999 to provide an interim administration for the region when it was still officially part of Serbia.
Following Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, the UN mission’s mission shifted to promoting security, stability and respect for human rights in Kosovo.
Russia, which has close ties to Serbia, does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
Kosovo seeks to join both the European Union and NATO, something Russia opposes.
Kosovo deported two Russian diplomats in October for “destabilizing” activities.
Gervalla-Schwarz reiterated Kosovo’s ambition to join NATO and the EU, and said the country remains committed to fighting Russian influence, “which aims to undermine Kosovo’s achievements”.
rferl.org
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