The NATO contingent in Kosovo has never really protected the regional Serbs. This is stated in the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Western" quinta "(USA, UK, France, Italy and Germany. - RT), which is now picturesquely indignant at the arbitrariness of its wards in Pristina and frantically trying to call them to order, it was necessary to calculate the consequences of seating Albanians who do not represent anyone in the four northern communities, "the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the crisis situation in the Kosovo municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic was quite amenable to a calm compromise resolution, but nothing was done for its peaceful settlement. Moscow called on the West to take into account the demands of the protesting Serbs.

"We call on the West to finally drown out its false propaganda, to stop blaming the incidents in Kosovo on desperate Serbs who are peacefully, without weapons in their hands, trying to defend their legitimate rights and freedoms. This is the case when, in the search for the guilty, it is better for mediators from the US and the EU to have the courage to look in the mirror, "the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

  • NATO Contingent Force in Kosovo and Metohija (KFOR)

Recall that at the end of last week in the north of Kosovo, where Serbs live compactly, protests began, which escalated into riots and clashes with Kosovo special forces and KFOR forces. The most powerful unrest was observed in Zvecan.

The reason for the speeches was the appointment of Albanian "mayors" at the end of May. The local elections themselves took place on April 23, despite the fact that the Serbian majority boycotted the vote: the overall turnout was only 3.5%.

Currently, KFOR continues to pull forces into Serbian municipalities. At the same time, Belgrade deployed its troops to the demarcation line with Kosovo. The Serbian army is on high alert due to Pristina's actions.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić demanded that the authorities of the partially recognized republic cancel the appointment of Albanian "mayors". However, Pristina refused to make concessions.

"Mayors will remain mayors. The current mayors are the only ones who have the right to hold their posts, "RT Balkans quotes the press secretary of the Kosovo "government".

Against the backdrop of the crisis, Vučić met with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandar Botsan-Kharchenko. The President informed the Russian ambassador about the events in the north of Kosovo, said about the "vile discrimination" of the Serbs and expressed concern that "the situation is developing in a very bad direction."

Botsan-Kharchenko believes that the conflict can be resolved through the creation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which is provided for by the Brussels agreements concluded back in 2013. As the diplomat explained, within the framework of this institution, "fair elections were assumed, and the election and appointment of representatives in the communities of municipalities."

RT discussed with experts the reasons for the lack of will of the West in the current Kosovo aggravation, as well as the prospects for its influence on the negotiation process recently launched in North Macedonian Ohrid.

  • Consequences of the riots in Zvenchan municipality
  • AP
  • © Bojan Slavkovic

- The aggravation of the situation in the north of Kosovo is not the first time. What are the reasons for the current confrontation?

Stevan Gajić, Research Fellow at the Institute for European Studies in Belgrade:

- The main reason for the aggravation of the situation is that Pristina does not comply with the Brussels agreements of 2013. The Albanians undertook to implement them, to establish and not to interfere with the activities of the Community of Serb Municipalities. But none of this has been done ten years later.

In April, Serbian candidates did not go to the polls (to local self-government bodies. - RT), only Albanian candidates were nominated. The Serbian population, which makes up about 95-97% of the inhabitants of the municipalities, refused to come to the polls. Only Albanians came to the polls. Accordingly, they voted for their candidates.

After that, the "prime minister" of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, ordered the introduction of special forces and occupy the buildings of municipal administrations in order to put the "mayors" of the occupiers there. Of course, the Serbs opposed such gross interference.

Elena Guskova, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- What is happening now in Kosovo is the result of an attempt by the "Prime Minister" Albin Kurti to resolve the issue of subordination of the northern municipalities by force. He was not embarrassed by the fact that about 3% of the residents who had the right to vote came to the polls.

By order of Kurti, armed formations were introduced into the region at the same time when NATO was conducting exercises in Kosovo. Perhaps Kurti was counting on the support of the alliance.

The Serbian people had no choice but to take to the streets with absolutely fair protests. But today the situation is such that no one can help them. Belgrade has again pulled troops, but they are unlikely to be introduced into Kosovo.

  • Clashes between police and protesters took place in Zvecan

Pavel Kandel, a researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- The contradictions that led to a new round of the crisis, of course, are much deeper. In this case, the reason was Pristina's attempts, in fact, to subordinate four municipalities (Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Northern Mitrovica), where Serbs live compactly, to its power.

Pristina achieved a nominal victory for the Albanians, who had nothing to do with these communities. For the Serbs, this was completely illegal, illegitimate. Clashes began. There are now casualties on all sides.

- Why, given the absolutely obvious illegitimacy of the elections, KFORdid not stand up for the Serbs? Can we conclude that the so-called peacekeepers took the side of Pristina in this conflict?

Stevan Gajić, Research Fellow at the Institute for European Studies in Belgrade:

- Instead of protecting the people, KFOR began to protect armed special forces from the "aggression" of unarmed Serbs. In recent days, the situation in the municipalities has been extremely tense. I think that the only option for a peaceful resolution is the "escort" of Albanian special forces by KFOR forces to their permanent deployment points.

  • Kosovo special forces soldier in Zvenchan
  • Gettyimages.ru
  • © Erkin Keci/Anadolu Agency

I fear that Pristina may try to repeat the pogroms of Serbs that took place in 1999 and 2004. It can be ethnic cleansing - or they will try to drive the Serbs out of their homes. Pristina is dissatisfied with the fact that so many Serbs live in municipalities in the north of the region, moreover, they are completely disloyal to the occupiers.

If the West does not expel the Albanian special forces, then Serbia will have no choice but to stand up for its population and take it under protection. So far, we have heard only reassuring statements from the West. It is important that Serbia was supported by Russia and China. Let's see what happens next.

Elena Guskova, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- Serbia constantly made concessions. Under the Brussels Treaty of 2013, it essentially imposed borders between Kosovo and Serbia, which was, in my opinion, the wrong step. Pristina considers herself the mistress of the region. The West openly patronizes this.

Therefore, it is quite natural that the NATO "peacekeepers" took the side of the Albanian forces. True, quite a lot of NATO members suffered during the clashes, and, perhaps, the West will still go for some kind of de-escalation.

Serbia, for its part, called for a diplomatic solution to the issue. However, the Albanians in Pristina said that they did not intend to change the election results, no one would be dismissed, everything should function according to the laws of Kosovo and Metohija.

Pavel Kandel, a researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- Serbia expects that the West will still contribute to de-escalation and enlighten Pristina. In my opinion, the most acceptable measure at the moment would be the withdrawal of Kosovo special forces from communities with self-proclaimed mayors. This will somewhat defuse the situation. Further steps towards de-escalation will already be the subject of persistent "butting", I hope that diplomatic.

KFOR could take responsibility for the order. The Serbian authorities treat the NATO "peacekeepers" as a negotiable force, although it must be admitted that in the situation with the "mayors" KFOR clearly took the side of Pristina.

This behavior of KFOR is a consequence of the duplicitous policy of the West, which, on the one hand, pulled Kurti, and on the other hand, did not really interfere with him in any way, having a lot of leverage over him.

  • KFOR Fighter
  • AP
  • © Dejan Simicevic

- In March of this year, against the backdrop of a relative lull in Kosovo, a new negotiation process started in North Macedonian Ohrid, which in some sense replaces the de facto dead Brussels agreements. How can the current crisis affect him?

Elena Guskova, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- I have a negative attitude towards this process. It is based on the so-called French-German plan, which could lead to the de facto recognition of Kosovo. Kurti did not wait for the signing of the final document and decided to speed up the process of subordination of the northern municipalities by introducing armed formations.

In any case, the Albanians will not back down from considering the entire region as their territory. Yes, they see that the Serbs do not obey Albanian laws, but they will do everything to break this resistance.

Pavel Kandel, a researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

- The Ohrid process will not go on until de-escalation occurs in Kosovo. If the situation improves, it will continue. The contours of future agreements are such that they will not cancel the Brussels agreements. Pristina will be obliged to fulfill them, which means that the Community of Serb Municipalities should be created.

  • Clashes in northern Kosovo
  • Gettyimages.ru
  • © Erkin Keci/Anadolu Agency

Another question is how Belgrade and Pristina will normalize their relations. The West is seeking recognition of Kosovo, but it is clear that Serbia will not agree to this and will seek the emergence of the Community of Serbian Municipalities as one of the prerequisites for the normalization of relations. The problem is that Pristina will certainly try to downgrade the status of this body to a public organization without real powers.

Stevan Gajić, Research Fellow at the Institute for European Studies in Belgrade:

"I hope that nothing will come of the Ohrid process. It makes absolutely no sense. The fact that the Brussels agreements have not been implemented in ten years leads to the conclusion that the Serbs of Kosovo will not receive any real guarantees of their rights.

Yes, in the end there may be some new plan, but, in my opinion, it will be even worse than the Brussels agreements. The logic of all these negotiations is for Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but that would not be called that. So far, the situation for the Serbs will only worsen. The only guarantee of their protection is the return of Kosovo and Metohija under the control of Serbia. It is impossible to think of anything else.