Now that Medvedev has won the Presidential race in Russia, no matter how unfairly, let me share with you some of the striking similarities between the situation and person of Medvedev and the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II that keep surfacing in my mind all the time.

Firstly, both could pass as if they're twins:





Secondly, both were/are very soft-spoken and liberal (not sure about Medvedev, but he sure does come across as a soft-mannered person).

Thirdly, both have come to power at the beginning of the century; Nicholas in the beginning of 20th century, Medvedev in the beginning of 21st.

Fourthly, in Tsar Nicholas II's case, he has lost much favor with everyone in his country by involving Russia in WWI as an ally and protector of Serbia against its aggressors. Russia's losses in the war directly led to his growing unpopularity with the Russians and eventually led to the overthrow of his dynasty by Bolsheviks. In Medvedev's case, with his coming to power, he is faced with a NEW conflict in the Balkans - Kosovo's declaration of independence and its recognition by Russia's major opponents - that ALSO involves stepping to help Serbia, and that has striking similarities to the events that led to WWI, namely the setting off of the "chain reaction" of war declarations across the continent due to the tangled web of alliances of European powers (although we're yet to see how events unfold around Kosovo in the near future, even now it's pretty clear that half of Europe is against the independence of Kosovo with Russia leading the pack and the other half is pro-independence with America leading the pack).

Fifth, Tsar Nicholas II went away shortly after Rasputin's death; in Medvedev's case, he will come to power after Putin's reign.

Amazing similarity it is!

You can't compare tzar Nicholas and Medvedev in this one. Why? Simply because tzar Nicholas helped Serbia because of his personal reasons and his devotion to the Slavic brothers in southeastern Europe.

Today, Russia is not helping Serbia because of the "divine and brotherly" relations between the two peoples, but because GAZPROM (the largest state-owned gas company in Russia whose chairman is Medevedev himself) is about to buy the largest Serbian state-owned oil company - NIS for a price which is 5 times smaller than the true market value of NIS. So, Serbia in fact bought the support, and paid very good for it (so did the Albanians for USA support). The second reason is international law (which is on Serbian side, according to the Resolution 1244 by Security Council which is still in power, Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia, and the declaration of independence is illegal). Russia is concerned over American imperialistic tendencies and US desire not to respect international law which the international community has been built on after WW2.

These are modern times. International relations are much more economy-orientated than in the past.

It is peculiar how Nicholas II rushed in to help "his fellow Slavs" as you say, considering that the Romanov dynasty and he himself were of German blood. Either way, I don't think the fact that we are in modern times changes anything; in fact, you have only re-framed the actual reasons and interests for due to which political alliances are forming. Instead of Russia supporting Serbia because of common blood, they are supporting it to fulfill their own economic interest. However, even with such an economic incentive, I think you are highly underestimating the impact that cultural and historical ties with Serbia are shaping Russia's policy in the Balkans.

But this is all speculation; we're yet to see how events will unfold, and even I don't expect there to be any real military conflict over Kosovo, though that is a possibility.

No, on the contrary... I believe that Serbia wouldn't lack Russian support even if there wasn't the GAZPROM-NIS deal, but it wouldn't be that strong and would not include more than "spoken support". Now, as Russia will have stronger economic ties with Serbia, its support will grow and connections between the two people will strengthen up.

I believe those connections will not provoke WW3, however

you missed one they both have 2 eyes

but was Nikki Russian ?

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"I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land" - Guess Who? You go it !

LOL....

No, his family, and dynasty (Romanovs) was of Germanic blood. A significant number of Russian nobles and rulers were Germanic.

Yep! There were always tendencies to creating the Russian-German empire throughout history... Would that had happened, no force in the world would be a match for them. Just imagine Hiltler and Stalin on the same side... It would be the end of the world as we know it.

But as Germany and Russia are democratic countries now (and Russia has the best relations with Germany considering the Eu countries), such a coalition would put period onto US domination today. But USA made Germans allies long time ago, and the Russians did not do very well in Eastern Germany during the Soviet days.

After reading some Serbian history I have started thinking it is only right that the West supports Kosovo, but on the same token cannot support it if their own territories start requesting autonomy...........

However, addressing the OP, I do not think Medvedev is much like Tsar Nicholos II. All of your evidence is purely coincidental. I could argue that Bush is like the first Roosevelt under your logic and they are not.

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I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.

Could you be more precise? I would like to hear your opinion after reading Serbian history, as you say.

Serbian History, neigh, all of Eastern European history has been similar to Western European History.The only difference is the collosal border the region shares with the giant that is Russia. Russia has manipulated and abused Eastern Europe for it's own ends for centuries.

Russia has ulterior motives in Eastern Europe, always has and will. Their annexation following WW2 is a testament to that. Eastern Europe could stand against them if they united or joined NATO.

Serbia can join NATO and stand up to Russia. Serbia obviously won't approve of the Kosovar independence, but can't & won't do anything. Serbia is in the same position that Spain is in, that France is in and Britain if their respective break-away regions declared independence.

The last time the Serbians repressed the Kosovar's, there was enormous Genocide. This is why I support Kosovo. England has not commited Genocide against against the 'other three' in centuries. Kosovo is breaking away because of the lack of economic prosperity. Serbia is a proud and ancient ethnic group, it is proud because it stood up to previous repressors.

If Serbia can provide economic prosperity to the Kosovars then this would not be happening.

__________________
I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.