Avni Islami: Meeting with Russian ambassador reveals Student List’s stance on Kosovo

Security professor Avni Islami has commented on a meeting between Student List representatives in Serbia, Dejan Shoshkiq and Miodrag Kërmar, and the Russian ambassador in Belgrade, Aleksandar Bocan-Harçenko.

According to Islami, the meeting shows that the list remains oriented toward Russia and supports Belgrade’s policy against Kosovo’s statehood.

He says Russian support for Serbia on the Kosovo issue, together with the list representatives’ pledge not to join sanctions against Moscow, demonstrates the continuity of the Russian-Serbian alliance. Islami considers this cooperation significant for Kosovo’s security and developments in the Western Balkans.

His full post:

The meeting between Dejan Shoshkiq and Miodrag Kërmar, representatives of the Student List, and the Russian ambassador to Serbia, Aleksandar Bocan-Harçenko, shows that the list intends to continue close cooperation with the Russian Federation, particularly on the issue of Kosovo. At the meeting, Russia reaffirmed its support for Serbia’s policy toward Kosovo. The list’s representatives also pledged that Serbia would not join international sanctions against Russia, even if they take charge of the government.

For Kosovo’s security, a concern is the Student List’s confirmation that it will continue Belgrade’s policy against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo, with Moscow’s diplomatic support.

This relationship gives Russia and Serbia opportunities to coordinate further in international forums to oppose Kosovo’s status as a state and hinder the strengthening of its international position.

The meeting shows that the Student List brings no change to Serbia’s existing approach to Kosovo. It continues to oppose Kosovo’s statehood and relies on its alliance with Russia.

Therefore, this orientation remains important in assessing the security environment in Kosovo and security developments in the Western Balkans.