site.btaSocialist MP Says UK Sanctions Waiver for Lukoil's Bulgarian Entities Shows Parliament, Government Made the Correct Call

Ilian Iontchev MP of BSP - United Left commented that Bulgaria had already had some good news on Friday - that Britain has paused sanctions to allow Lukoil's Bulgarian subsidiaries to operate until February 14, which clearly shows the decisions of the National Assembly and the government were correct. He added that Sofia expects the United States to also grant such a waiver in a very short timeframe, allowing Lukoil to continue operating.

Asked why Rumen Spetsov was named Lukoil Neftochim's special commercial administrator, Iontchev said he was surprised by Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev's statement that Spetsov, who is Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency, does not meet the requirement for the special administrator to have at least five years' experience in the petroleum industry and the management of assets in it, introduced in 2023. "Britain's response is clear. Rumen Spetsov is suitable to serve as Lukoil's special administrator," Iontchev said.

He noted that the short-term goal is to appoint such an administrator who is accepted by Bulgaria's partners so that the country can get a temporary exemption. "The first step has already been taken; from now on, we expect Spetsov to demonstrate his qualities as a capable financial expert, as he did at the Revenue Agency, and we expect good results," Iontchev said. What matters most is that affordable fuel should be available to people and the State, he added.
 
Asked if Spetsov meets the legal requirements for the position, the MP said that Britain obviously thinks so, and so does he.