#Bulgaria: Report launch - Russia’s influence in Bulgaria

Nikolay Barekov MEP during the Report Launch: Russia’s Influence in Bulgaria

Nikolay Barekov MEP, speaking of during the Report Launch: "Russia’s Influence in Bulgaria", said "Geoffrey Van Orden is one of the most prominent European politicians in Bulgaria. Bulgarians like him and the politicians are afraid of him, because he is known for his accurate assessments. Some years ago, he called our political establishment 'Swamp full of crocodiles' said Nikolay Barekov MEP during the Report Launch: "Russia’s Influence in Bulgaria"

With regard to the Russia issues the swamp with crocodiles is divided into two parts. The first part is for Putin, the other one is against him. Each party, every politician or journalist in Bulgaria feels obliged to identify himself as loving or hating Russian influence. Although Bulgaria is member of NATO and the EU, we are dependent on Russia's energy exports. This is real paradox. Part of our party elites even in our government and opposition are personally dependent on Putin and the former KGB. Nowadays many former KGB agents are members of the Bulgarian Parliament. This is unfortunately the reality a quarter century after the fall of the dictator Todor Zhivkov.

Bulgaria is for strategic importance for Europe due to the fact that currently Turkey and Russia keep their new war on Bulgarian territory. There is a Turkish minority in Bulgaria, which minority has its own party. But this Turkish party also split into two parts - the second paradox in Bulgaria. The first part of these Bulgarians with Turkish origin supports Erdogan, while the other one supports Putin. Both camps are full of agents of the former KGB and Bulgarian 'State Security' (DS - the former security communistic service)

The patriotic parties in Bulgaria are also divided in two positions. The first one supports Putin, the second one supports USA.

With regard to the Russia issue Bulgaria needs politicians like Van Orden in order to receive the objective truth about Russian interests, but on other hand - with respect and understanding of our people, who in general love Russia and are grateful to the Russian Tsar for the Liberating Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule.

Comment

Тhe influence of Russia in Bulgaria is measured by political and economic dependencies. Both types of dependencies are interconnected. Over 90% of gas consumption for household and industry in Bulgaria comes from Russia and currently there is no alternative source. 30% of the country’s electricity is produced by only one nuclear power plant, Kozloduy NPP, where two Russian nuclear reactors work with Russian nuclear fuel. In Bulgaria there is only one oil refinery, located in Bourgas, owned by Lukoil. The paradox is that the gas contracts with Russia as well as the sale of the refinery to Russians was signed between 1997 and 2001, during the pro-American reformist and right-wing government, headed by Ivan Kostov. Nowadays in Bulgaria there are other Russian energy projects, which informally, in the words of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, have not yet been achieved. One of these projects is the South Stream, for which the European Commission has imposed sanctions.

The huge cash flows, gained by Russian energy companies in Bulgaria, are converted into grants for certain political parties. One such party in government is the party of the former President Georgi Parvanov, the PP ABC, which nominated Ivaylo Kalfin as Deputy to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. For the period between 2001 and 2011 Parvanov was an active lobbyist for Putin and a political propagandist for the Big energy Russian Slam - a Russian nuclear power plant - the South Stream gas pipeline and the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, which would directly deliver Russian oil to the Russian refinery. The other party that is a direct conductor 'of the Russian interests in Bulgaria' is the Ataka party, led by Volen Siderov. This trend is part of a wider trend in Europe – European nationalist parties of the extreme right being directly sponsored by Putin.

The behaviour of the right-wing political parties is inexplicable - they condemn the invasion of Putin in words, but in actions they actually support it. A recent example is the position of Borisov’s government which in media statements to a Bulgarian and Russian audience supports the withdrawal of sanctions against Russia. Added to this rather disturbing background in Bulgaria, it should be noted that the overwhelming public opinion supports recent actions by Putin.

Putin and the Russians have many official supporters in Bulgaria. What is cause for concern is that their lobbying interests have entered the political parties in government and in opposition among parties from across the political spectrum. Even the second nationalist formation in parliament is divided on this axis. While VMRO by KP 'Patriotic Front' supports Russian policy in Bulgaria, their partners NFSB declared themselves anti-Russian and pro-Western.

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