Since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, a comparison with Kosovo has often been used in the spat between Moscow and the West over the (un)justification of Putin's invasion of Crimea. Every day old people wake up and new fans of "Serbia to Tokyo" appear. Sloba died and Dobrica is not feeling well, so they put their hopes in Putin. trampled Kosovo, that's how Putin and his occupation of Ukrainian territory are celebrated.
If the Americans could punish Serbia by seizing Kosovo, why can't Putin punish Ukraine by seizing Crimea!? This question-answer of domestic guardians of the international order is like any propaganda platitude, seductive but - false.
There is more than one difference, and one is essential: Serbia "deserved" Kosovo's unraveling with its decades-long policy of apartheid towards the majority Albanians, while Ukraine was punished for the imperial arrogance of Putin, who tied the fate of that country to his big-state dream of a Eurasian union. As a counterpart to the European Union Oligarchy as an alternative to democracy.
Milošević tried something similar two decades ago. Didn't the official Moscow try to test that in the early 90s in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. For a decade, from those who today glorify Putin's campaign against the "Ustasha" and "Shiptars" in Ukraine, we heard how our former homeland was destroyed by the West and the Vatican, so that, at the end of the bloody tragedy, the main perpetrators of the crime who did not reach The Hague ended up Russia.
If the similarities between these two cases are already being discussed - a parallel can be drawn much sooner between Milosevic's and Putin's policies than between Kosovo and Crimea.
Putin controls the media, institutions, police and army in Russia like Milošević did in the late 80's in the former Yugoslavia. Putin's will is implemented in Russia without the possibility of discussion or resistance, as Milosevic's was imposed within Serbia and the Federation.
To send the army and organize the referendum parade in Crimea, Putin is using the propaganda that was abused by Milošević when he needed justification to send tanks to Slovenia, Croatia and especially - Bosnia. Russians from Crimea and Eastern Ukraine are asking to live in the same state with their brothers in Russia, just as Milosevic and SANU asked that all Serbs live in one state. This, as a principle, is of course not valid for Russian citizens who are not Russians. Ask Grozny.
The amount of cynicism that Putin uses in addressing the West is similar. He mocks their threats of sanctions, while mocking from above the right of the Ukrainian people to tie their future to an alliance with the EU and not Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Milošević's propaganda proved the innate superiority of Serbs in the Balkans; golden spoons from the 13th century, Dušan's empire were celebrated, Slovenians and Croats were humiliated as Austrian grooms. Ordered... And again if lucky...
Serbs paid a huge price for following Milosevic's adventure. Could it happen that in Putin's game with fire, the biggest victims are the citizens of Russia? Even some Russian analysts these days point to the disastrous effect of Russia's isolation on its economy. In the West, they estimate that cooling relations and sanctions against Russia will cause damage to the EU and America, but that the consequences for Russia will be deeper and more dramatic.
In the first three months of this year, 70 billion dollars were taken out of Russia, which is the amount calculated for the entire last year. The Russian stock market fell by 10 percent, shares of the largest Russian companies and twice as much. In one KGB document, Putin is described as a person who does not know how to behave responsibly in delicate and dramatic situations. Did he fear the uprising in Ukraine against the corrupt, oligarchic government for internal reasons and concern for his own fate? Did he cross the Rubicon, perhaps because of the flammability of the example?
After the annexation of Crimea, Putin will, over time, get into more and more trouble. Russia has experienced affirmation and global appreciation in recent years by cooperating with the West and by establishing itself as an important world player with the power of diplomacy and skillful use of resources. The confrontation with the West brings her back to the tragic years of isolation and dictatorship.
If Montenegro realized a decade and a half ago that it should not depend on Serbian grain, it is time to say goodbye - to Putin and Đukanović and their oligarchs. The future of Montenegro is in a united Europe. In a rational assessment of one's interests, without rushing to support a force - anyone's.
Bonus video:
