Chamova: Our position on the EU sanctions package protects the national interest

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova defended the government’s decision to seek the removal of certain individuals from the EU’s 21st package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, saying that the aim was to protect Bulgaria’s national interest.

Asked by GERB what had prompted the government to seek an exemption for billionaire Iskander Makhmudov, who is part of the management of the company that supplied railcars for the Sofia Metro, she said:

“Regarding the proposal, competent national authorities alerted us that imposing restrictions on Iskander Makhmudov, as well as on the owner of Transmashholding, could affect our economic interests, given Bulgaria’s use of derogations from the EU sanctions against the Russian company Metrovagonmash.”

The minister also answered a question from Democratic Bulgaria about why the government had sought the removal from the sanctions list of Russia’s sports minister and Togliattikhimbank, which is part of a group that manufactures ammunition. “The arguments cited in the case of Mikhail Dektyarov were the absence of any specific contribution to the military actions against Ukraine, as well as the fact that the measure could not contribute to ending the war”, Velislava Petrova said.

As for Togliattikhimbank, she recalled that the bank is owned by one of the world’s largest ammonia producers. “Given the high prices and unstable situation on international fertilizer markets, currently also in connection with the conflict in the Middle East, any restriction on opportunities in this area could have a negative impact”, she said.

Edited by Diana Tsanlova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov