Comparing secession of Kosovo and Crimea

David L. Phillips

/Russia is pointing to the "Kosovo precedent" as justification for its actions in Crimea./ - Where did it? There is the 2nd chapter in http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/europa/krim-krise-putin-brueskiert-die-serben-12832912.html which mentions the position of Putin, that "nur die Bürger, die in einem bestimmten Territorium leben, über deren Zukunft bestimmen können" (only the citizens that live in a certain territory can determine the future [of the territory, or the people? article is unclear]) -> Probably a false claim.

/Yugoslavia's 1974 constitution established Kosovo as an autonomous province with the same rights as Yugoslavia's republics, which included the right to secession./ - Since the province was part of the republic of Serbia this is impossible. -> False claim.