Russia continues its persistent propaganda against Kosovo, often citing it as a precedent to justify its own actions, particularly the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a recent interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov launched renewed criticism at the West, accusing it of double standards and open racism toward Slavic nations. Lavrov questioned the legitimacy of Kosovo's independence and claimed it violated international norms and the United Nations Charter.
Referring to Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, Lavrov argued that at the time, there was neither an ongoing military operation nor any threat to the civilian population that could justify such a move. He emphasized that UN Resolution 1244 had guaranteed the return of Serbian police and border guards to the region, which he repeatedly referred to as a Serbian province.
“They didn’t care about that,” Lavrov stated. “They simply chose a path of secession. The UN representative, Martti Ahtisaari, stood up and said that Kosovo is independent – without a referendum, without anything. The Americans told him ‘it must be done,’ and he did it.”
Lavrov then compared this situation to that of Crimea, where Russia organized a controversial referendum following its military intervention in 2014. The annexation, widely condemned and not recognized by the international community, has since been a cornerstone of Russia's narrative against Western hypocrisy.
“Meaning, we Slavs can’t do it, but Albanians can?” Lavrov asked rhetorically, expressing his view that the West applies different rules depending on the actors involved, and suggesting that Russia and other Slavic nations face discrimination on the global stage.
This statement underscores the Kremlin’s continued use of Kosovo as a rhetorical tool to defend its geopolitical agenda, while also revealing how deeply grievances from the Balkans remain embedded in Russian foreign policy discourse.