Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official commentary regarding the systematic confiscation of the Serbian Orthodox Church property in Kosovo
November 2, 2018. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the situation around the Serbian Orthodox Church sites in Kosovo is a consequence of the uncanonical steps taken by the Patriarchate of Constantinople towards the Orthodoxy in Ukraine. The following is a translation of the commentary about the situation in Kosovo, published by the Department of Information and Press of the MFA of Russia:
“The situation is seriously alarming around the Serbian Orthodox Church sites in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo of the Republic of Serbia. The practice of Kosovar usurpation of the SOC property continues. In particular, the Church of John the Baptist and the chapel of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in the city of Pec are no longer listed in local cadastral documents as a SOC property,” the ministry stated on its website.
We see this situation in part as a consequence of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s uncanonical steps towards the Orthodox religion in Ukraine. Politicized approaches to canonical Orthodox structures have aggravated, their legitimate rights are being violated.
In view of this, the international presences in Kosovo, primarily the UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo], should put pressure on Pristina’s authorities in order to protect the legitimate interests of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the province.”
Sources:
http://www.mid.ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3394677