site.btaBSP Demands Defence Minister’s Resignation

BSP leader Korneliya Ninova demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Todor Tagarev over his remarks that Bulgaria should make sure the NATO member states are able to help this country enhance security in the Black Sea region, notwithstanding the Montreux Treaty. At a news briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, she said: "In connection with what is happening, with the government's decisions on Ukraine, and not only, but also with Mr. Tagarev's proposal on the Black Sea, which is a clear violation of the international treaty of Montreux to which Bulgaria is a party, we demand the Minister's immediate resignation. He is already harmful to Bulgaria. His actions and words are dangerous for national security, for the security of Bulgarian citizens, for peace and for the neutrality of Bulgaria, which we claim to uphold. We want his resignation immediately."

Tagarev's remarks also prompted a reaction by the nationalist Vazrazhdane party.

Ninova further said that the Socialists will not support a declaration submitted by GERB, Continue the Change, Democratic Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, calling for Ukraine's accession to NATO. "We draw attention to the fact that the serious, large member states are expressing reservations: these are the US, Germany, France, Hungary, including a statement by President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, that they should at this stage refrain from taking a position on the admission of Ukraine to NATO, and that this would pit the entire alliance against Russia in a war - this means a world war,” Ninova said.

She also commented on the rush by the parliamentary Energy Committee to consider later Wednesday whether the reactors for the Belene nuclear power plant should be sold to Ukraine: "You can see that the committee is rushing to discuss and let the plenary hall adopt a decision on the sale of the two reactors for Belene. We will vote against, of course. We realise that all the haste is because of President Zelenskyy's visit to Bulgaria. The goal they are announcing is not the one that is the truth. By selling the two units, they are aiming to end the Belene project for good on the one hand, and on the other - to hide a scam, because Bulgaria has paid EUR 600 million for equipment that does not exist, there is only about EUR 250 million worth of equipment on the site. The difference has sunk into someone's pockets and with this deal they want to cover the truth about the theft and corruption," Ninova said.