"The United Nations Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, has not been officially informed by the Kosovo authorities about the declaration" persona non grata "of a Russian member of this mission." 

This is the statement of Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Kosovo's Foreign Ministry announced on December 31 that it had declared a Russian UNMIK official a "persona non grata" (undesirable person) because of its allegedly harmful activity, which has compromised Kosovo's national security.  

But Dujarric says that according to the laws under which UNMIK operates, the doctrine of "persona non grata" can not be applied to the staff of this mission. 

"We are aware that the authorities in Kosovo have declared 'persona non grata' a member of the staff of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. We have not received any official communication in the mission from the Kosovo authorities regarding this notification. 

The 'persona non grata' doctrine is not applicable to United Nations personnel, it is not provided for in UNMIK Regulation 2000/47 (on the status, privileges and immunities of KFOR and UNMIK and their personnel in Kosovo ) ", - is said in the statement of Dujarric. 

Sharr Jakupi, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla, said that on December 31 that this ministry had informed UNMIK that one of their officials had been declared non grata. 

"UNMIK was informed by the MFA on Friday, December 31, 2021 that one of the officials of this mission has been declared persona non grata", wrote Jakupi on the social network Twitter. 

The UN said any concerns about any UNMIK staff members should be addressed to the mission leadership so that UNMIK can address the issue “based on the status, privileges and immunities of UNMIK and its personnel. The MFA did not provide details regarding the official declared non grata. 

Kosovo even at the end of October last year had ordered the expulsion of two Russian diplomats, as it accused Moscow of "destabilizing" activities. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani had said that the diplomats were ordered to leave the country.