site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Slams Government's Silence on Bulgaria's Support for UN Rebuke of Russia

The opposition Democratic Bulgaria has accused the government of failing to publicly acknowledge its support for a United Nations statement condemning Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine. Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of the Yes, Bulgaria party, which is one of two partners in Democratic Bulgaria, said Thursday that Sofia had joined nearly 50 countries in backing a declaration denouncing Russia’s recent strikes on Kyiv, civilians, and critical infrastructure. According to Mirchev, however, Bulgaria’s endorsement of the declaration was never published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This is not a technical oversight. It is geopolitical ambiguity,” Mirchev said in a statement distributed by his party.

Mirchev also criticized remarks made by Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Paris earlier in the week, saying that rather than focusing on Russia’s responsibility for the war, Radev had once again called on Europe to revise its approach to Ukraine and give in to fears surrounding Russian hypersonic weapons. "That is not a policy of peace," Mirchev said.

"Peace cannot be achieved by obscuring aggression, remaining silent about Russian attacks, or leaving the victim isolated while encouraging the aggressor to continue."

Mirchev said Bulgaria should take a more visible and principled role within the European response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"Bulgaria should be a clear and dignified part of the European position against Russian aggression - not a country that quietly signs the right statements at the UN while hiding them from its own citizens," he said.