Since Kosovo announced their autonomy from Serbia we have seen Serbians and Russians protesting against the news . Embassies attacked , angry rallies . One might wonder why Russians are concerned with 'bizniz' in Serbia and the reason they might have for decrying Kosovos' decision . We were told that the cold war was over when communism collapsed in the Soviet Union . And while some things changed . Many , if not most things remain the same .  We have seen the rise of Putins' cult of personality and the nationalist movement that is its' engine . We have also seen a Europe that is trying to act in union . They have much yet to achieve but progress has been made .  Serbia provides an outpost both geographically and ideologically for Putins' Russia . Any weakening of that is a threat to anyone Serbian or Russian that operates with the same mindset .  The means  and ends by which Vladimir has gained and consolidated his power ( and his billions plus personal war chest )  are not that of dialogue and negotiation . So he has a currency that is not wanted in the Europe of 2008 . While Mr Putin may be restrained his 'followers' are not under the same obligations . And by that I mean those Serbians and Russians ( and other cells in Central Asia ) that do not want democracy or ethnic equality . Those who see an automatic weapon as the way to resolve a conflict . Let us not forget the ' rape camps ' set up by Serbian paramilitary units and the mass graves we witnessed again and again on our televisions .