Kremlin denies Kosovan claims that Russia is pushing Serbia to stoke tensions
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The Merdare border crossing between Kosovo and Serbia, closed on Wednesday by Kosovo after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
MITROVICA, Kosovo - Former Kosovo Serb policeman Dejan Pantic, whose arrest heightened tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, will be released from custody and placed under house arrest, a Pristina court spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday.
Pantic was arrested on Dec 10 on charges of assaulting police officers during a previous protest.
His detention fuelled tensions between the Kosovo government and the ethnic Serb minority, who blocked roads in the north of the country demanding Pantic’s release.
The Kremlin on Wednesday denied Kosovan claims that Russia was influencing Serbia to destabilise Kosovo, saying that Serbia was simply defending the rights of ethnic Serbs.
Asked about Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla’s claim that Serbia, under the influence of Russia, was aiming to destabilise Kosovo by supporting the Serb minority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was “completely wrong” to search for destructive Russian influence.
Serbia denies it is trying to destabilise its neighbour, and says it just wants to protect its minority there.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday that Serbia would “continue to fight for peace and seek compromise solutions”. REUTERS
