From: Exit Staff
Russian Security Envoy to Visit Balkans following Lavrov’s Allegations

Russia’s top security envoy will be visiting the Balkans as the region’s leaders reject claims they have deployed mercenaries to the Ukraine.

According to Associated Press, talks will be focused on claims made by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that mercenaries from Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been recruited and transferred to Donbas in Ukraine to fight against Moscow-backed rebels.

Government officials in the three accused countries have denied the claims, describing them as baffling.

During an interview with Russia Tody, Lavrov blasted NATO and Western leaders, adding they are not interested in defense and used the example of NATO attacking Yugoslavia in 1999.

He continued that the former Yugoslavia area is “far from booming” and said Kosovo and other Western Balkan countries are “becoming grounds for criminality”.

“There are terrorists, drug traffickers. It is a recruiting station for mercenaries engaging in United States-sponsored hostilities. There are claims that mercenaries from Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are being recruited to be transported to Donbas, and other nations, in order to destabilize Russia,” he said.
Lavrov added these claims are being verified.

In Kosovo, Blerim Vela, the president’s chief of staff blasted the claims as “fake news” and said they are part of a parcel of disinformation that seeks to justify military action against Ukraine.

Pandeli Majko, former Albanian prime minister said the comments were “unprecedented”.

In Bosnia, the security ministry denied the claims and said that according to their data, no citizens have travelled to Ukraine to fight.