Crimea and Russia’s “new” attitude towards Kosovo
Crimea and Russia’s “new” attitude towards Kosovo

Author(s): Igor Novaković
Subject(s): Politics, International relations/trade, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: ISAC - Centar za međunarodne i bezbednosne poslove
Keywords: CEFTA; Serbia–Russia Relations; Kosovo; Crimea Annexation; International Law and Territorial Integrity; European Union Integration; Russian Foreign Policy
Summary/Abstract: Explaining the reasons for Russia’s actions in the Crimea, Vladimir Putin said that “the West acts any way it wants, implementing power against sovereign states worldwide.” Furthermore, he criticized the West for other acts, primarily the situations in Iraq, Iran and Libya, as well as for the so called “colour revolutions”, through which “solutions were imposed on some of the countries not in line with their traditions”. He also stated that in practice the West “does not follow international law, but only the law of power”, and that the United States has crossed the red line leaving Russia with no other choice than to defend its interests. In addition, Putin remarked that the referendum and Crimea’s accession to Russia are in coherence with international law, alluding to the case of Kosovo. The Declaration of Independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea refers to the Kosovo Declaration of Independence and the confirmation of it’s status by the United Nations Court of Justice ruling in 2010. Thus it is evident that the question of Kosovo’s independence is a key factor on which Russia rhetorically justifies the intervention in Crimea and the subsequent annexation.

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