site.btaUPDATED President Raises Legal Concerns over Appointment of Special Administrator for Lukoil's Bulgarian Companies

Commenting on the appointment of the Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency, Rumen Spetsov, as special commercial administrator to oversee Russian oil company Lukoil's four operations in Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev told reporters on Saturday morning that he is concerned about the Bulgarian Constitution and the rule of law. The President said that under the law in place, the special commercial manager must draft a detailed six-month plan of action, which must then be submitted to the Security Council at the Council of Ministers for approval, and that has not been done.

Radev said: "When did he develop such a plan? When did the members of the council review it? When did they approve it, since he was not even present at the Council meeting?" The head of State warned that an action that violates the law from the outset carries a huge risk of leading to further legal violations. He added: "There is a bigger crisis than the potential fuel crisis - it is the crisis in Bulgarian politics, which is much more frightening."

Commenting on the derogation for Lukoil Bulgaria, the President stated that it was abundantly clear that there would be a licence not only for Bulgaria but also for all affected EU Member States, since the US and EU are strategic allies. He added that the latest developments should not be considered a heroic diplomatic achievement.

Radev continued: "They made sure that the guarantees that were in the 2023 law were dropped. They voted for powers to handle shares and property, which is against the Constitution and the inviolability of private property. They have already voted for indulgences so that the special commercial administrator is not subject to administrative and judicial control – something that is outside the national and European legal order."

The President concluded: "The Constitution no longer matters, laws no longer matter, arguments no longer matter. Those in power have trampled on all legal, political, and moral norms."