Kosovo independence precedent

For discussion of the effect of the Kosovo secession on international relations, see International recognition of Kosovo. For discussion over the legality of the Kosovo secession, see Political status of Kosovo.
Map of the Republic of Kosovo

On 17 February 2008, the majority of members of the Assembly of Kosovo, including Hashim Thaçi, and Fatmir Sejdiu (who were not members of the Assembly), not acting in the capacity of PISG, declared Kosovo an independent and sovereign state.[1] Kosovo was soon recognized as a sovereign state by the United States, Turkey, Albania, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and others.[2] This triggered an international debate over whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence had set a precedent in international law that could apply to other separatist movements, or whether it is a special case.[3] The recognition of Kosovo's independence by 101 out of 193 UN states, according to many sources, has given fresh impetus to other separatist movements.[4][5]

It is estimated that a total of 70 unrecognized nations and organizations use the Kosovo precedent to achieve their goals.[6] Abkhazia and South Ossetia renewed their calls for the recognition of their sovereignty. Kosovo's independence also led to increased tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Republika Srpska vetoed recognising Kosovo, and threatened to declare independence themselves.[7]

The precedent was cited over the course of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to recognize Kosovo independence, but subsequently used the precedent to achieve goals in Ukraine.[8][9][10] The Republic of Crimea proclaimed its independence from Ukraine on 11 March 2014, citing the Kosovo precedent; Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation just a week later. In 2022, recognition of eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions and their later annexation is supported by the Kosovo precedent.[11][12]

  1. ^ "Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo" (PDF). International Court of Justice. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  2. ^ Hsu, Jenny W (2008-02-20). "Taiwan officially recognizes Kosovo". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  3. ^ "The Kosovo Precedent". Prospect Magazine. April 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  4. ^ "Republic of Palau suspends recognition of Kosovo".
  5. ^ Timothy Garton Ash (2008-02-21). "The Kosovo precedent". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  6. ^ Jovanovic, Miroslav N.; Jovanović, Miroslav N. (1 January 2013). The Economics of European Integration. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 929. ISBN 978-0-85793-398-0. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, a group of some 70 members from Abkhazia over Kurdistan to Zanzibar is and will be using the Kosovo precedent to pursue its objectives.
  7. ^ "Bosnian Serbs Threaten Secession Over Kosovo". Javno. 2008-02-22. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  8. ^ "How similar _ or not _ are Crimea and Kosovo?". abcnews.go.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Coakley, Amanda (3 August 2022). "Serbia Is Playing With Matches Again". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  10. ^ "Russian Ambassador to Serbia Denies Change in Putin's Kosovo Policy". Balkan Insight. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  11. ^ "Путин заявил Гутерришу, что Россия признала ДНР и ЛНР на основании прецедента Косово". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  12. ^ "Putin cites precedent of Kosovo in explaining recognition of DPR, LPR". TASS. Retrieved 2022-08-18.