BELGRADE, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia should give Serbia legal support with its plans to appeal to an international court Kosovo's declaration of independence, a senior Russian MP said Thursday.

"I am convinced here that if necessary, Russia should give all the necessary political and legal assistance," said Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the lower house's international committee, who is currently in Belgrade on a one-day visit.

Kosovo, with a 90% ethnic-Albanian majority, has been formally recognized as a sovereign state by over 35 countries including the U.S. and most EU members since it proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17.

Russia, Serbia's long-time ally and a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, has refused to recognize Kosovo's independence.