Reactions in parliament after PM’s statement on veto on sanctions against Russia

"Protecting Patriarch Kirill does not make Bulgaria safer, richer, more influential, more competitive, does not strengthen our positions in the European Union and the security of the Black Sea region." This is stated in a declaration by the GERB-SDS parliamentary group on the occasion of the statement of Prime Minister Rumen Radev that Bulgaria would impose a veto if Russian Patriarch Kirill was not removed from the European Commission's proposal for new sanctions against Russia.

According to the coalition, the Prime Minister's comment creates the impression that at a time when Europe is trying to limit the instruments of Russian influence, Bulgaria has chosen to defend one of them. MP Daniel Mitov recalled words of Rumen Radev as president years ago that Kirill came to our country as a spiritual leader, but chose to leave as a politician.

“The request for a veto on sanctions against Russia is a strategic mistake – Bulgaria should not be isolated from decision-making in the EU at such an important strategic moment when Europe is on two speeds,” said Bozhidar Bozhanov, deputy chairman of the Democratic Bulgaria parliamentary group.

According to the MP, we cannot turn an agent of the Russian services who propagates war, sanctifies machine guns and sends young Russian men to the front into an occasion for such a strategic move. “We see that Bulgaria is turning into Orban’s Hungary,” he concluded.

“It is right to impose a veto and not sanction the Russian patriarch or anyone else, but more importantly, the government should veto the entire package of sanctions that concern Bulgarian economic interests,” Tsoncho Ganev of Vazrazhdane said.

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said that in the difficult times we live in and struggle for our financial survival, it was extremely important that the sanctions against Russia were lifted.

DPS and the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party did not comment on Rumen Radev's position.

Editor: Diana Tsankova