Russia provokes government chaos in Bulgaria – is the EU threatening the next problem country in the Ukraine war?
Created: 07/11/2022 04:51
By: Aleksandra Fedorska
The Russian embassy in Sofia is causing unrest with a fundraising campaign, while Bulgaria counters by expelling embassy employees.
The conflict also affects the EU and NATO.
Munich – As an EU member state and NATO state, Bulgaria is firmly integrated into western structures, but the country's society does not seem to be able to finally decide between west and east.
The Ukraine conflict is now forcing the Balkan state to show its colors.
The fronts between Bulgaria and Russia have also hardened in recent days.
Traditionally, Bulgaria has been one of the Russia-friendly countries in Eastern Europe.
However, the Russian embassy went too far at the end of June with a call for donations for financial support for the Russian soldiers.
The Bulgarian government reacted with horror and expelled 70 embassy employees for espionage activities.
In return, the Russian ambassador in Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, threatened to close the Russian embassy because it was said to be no longer functional after the diplomats had been expelled.
Closing the embassy would sever diplomatic relations between Russia and Bulgaria.
Russia gave in: the diplomats and their families have now left Sofia for Moscow in two planes.
A Russian diplomat starts his journey home with his family.
© Georgi Paleykov/Imago
Russia wants to put political pressure on Bulgaria
“This was another attempt to put pressure on Bulgaria.
I don't think this will lead to a severing of diplomatic relations.
That in smoke and mirrors that is supposed to scare us.
In addition, a sufficient number of diplomats remain in Bulgaria to be able to work normally,” Arman Babikya, a Bulgarian anti-Russia journalist who was once a member of the Bulgarian National Assembly, commented on the Russian threats in the media.
The dispute over the diplomatic representation in Sofia is just another chapter in a fundamental Bulgarian-Russian conflict over the Russia policy of the Bulgarian government of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov.
Jakub Bielamowicz from the Institute of New Europe pointed out to
Merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA
that a conflict about Bulgaria's geopolitical orientation was being carried out here.
Since the formation of the government in December 2021, Petkov has accused the Russian ambassador Mitrofanova of working against his government.
Her all-too-bluntly formulated interference in Bulgarian politics was even the subject of considerations to declare her persona non grata.
War in Ukraine breaks coalition in Bulgaria
A central point of contention in the Petkov government concerns arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Petkov spoke out in favor of it.
Two of his pro-Russian coalition partners opposed it.
A compromise was then found: Bulgaria would only provide military aid, for example repairs to tanks.
The coalition peace did not last long.
Finally, in June, the Bulgarian coalition finally broke up.
The head of government, who had spoken out in favor of supporting Ukraine, lost the vote of no confidence in parliament.
The populist party There is such a people (ITN), which had left the governing coalition, then voted jointly with the opposition against Petkov as prime minister.
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Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov had risked a lot for Bulgaria's western course - and failed.
© Hristo Vladev/Imago
Petkov had risked a lot for Bulgaria's western course and failed.
This ended his own political career as Prime Minister.
His party colleague Assen Wassilew had taken the helm in the recent coalition talks from “We will continue the change”.
But in the end he too lacked four votes to form a government.
Other parties are now trying to form a coalition.
If that doesn't work, new elections are likely to be held in Bulgaria in the fall.
One thing is clear: Ukraine policy and Russia's influence will continue to determine Bulgarian politics.
According to surveys, around half of Bulgarians are not sure who is to blame for the war in Ukraine.
“Bulgaria is facing an important directional decision.
If pro-Russian forces take power in the new elections, the European Union is threatened with a further split in foreign and sanctions policy towards Russia, as we are already experiencing with Hungary,” says the Balkans expert Bielamowicz.
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Even before the Ukraine war: Russia spied on NATO in Bulgaria
It is important for Russia to maintain its waning influence in Bulgaria.
The continuation of the western course would be anything but optimal for Moscow.
Moscow will probably escalate the dispute over the embassy closure in order to provoke political chaos in Bulgaria.
It is hoped that this will increase support for pro-Russian parties in Bulgaria.
The EU and NATO country Bulgaria has been taking tougher action than before against the activities of the Russian secret services on Bulgarian territory for several years.
In his comments, journalist Arman Babikyan recalls that high-ranking officials at the Russian embassy have repeatedly engaged in espionage activities in the past.
It was not until 2020 that an agent of the Russian military secret service (GRU), who as a leading member of the embassy in Bulgaria spied on the military activities of the USA and thus NATO, was exposed.
The Russian embassy in Sofia also surfaced in connection with the assassination of the Skripal family.
At that time, Russian intelligence agents tried to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury.
