MOSCOW, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Introduction of anti-Russian sanctions by the partially recognized Balkan state of Kosovo is unsurprising, as its authorities are wholly dependent on the West, Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Russian parliamentary committee for Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) affairs told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
"Those who govern Kosovo today directly depend on Western institutions, our "strategic friends," and, naturally, their [Western] policy of exposing Russia and the Russian world to public dishonor, supporting anti-Russian interpretation of events, taking place in Ukraine, is also backed by them [the Kosovo authorities], and there is nothing paradoxical in this," the official said.
The lawmaker added that if the sanctions, imposed by Brussels and Washington, were joined by any country with considerably strong links with Russia, "then it would be interesting, but not here, not in this case."
On Wednesday, Kosovo announced its decision to support anti-Russian economic sanctions, imposed by the United States and the European Union over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict. Kosovar authorities did not clarify how they would impose restrictions, as Moscow and Pristina do not have economic or diplomatic ties with Russian representative office in Pristina being a part of its embassy in Belgrade. The Russian Federation strongly opposed the Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, largely backed by the West.
