Belgrade-Sana
The Russian Embassy in Serbia considered that the declaration by the Kosovo authorities of a Russian employee of the United Nations Mission as persona non grata is a provocation.
"The so-called (Kosovo authorities) publicly declared an employee of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, a citizen of the Russian Federation, persona non grata, claiming his incompatibility with diplomatic status activities," the embassy was quoted by Sputnik as saying in a statement.
The embassy added that "this decision by Pristina is another provocation to Russia and the United Nations, which was taken to win the favor of Western mentors," noting that "according to international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, it has no legal reference."
The embassy statement expressed the Russian side's hope that the UN mission would respond firmly and solidly to Kosovo's behavior, calling on the UN administration in the region to fully guarantee the safety of its Russian staff.