site.btaVazrazhdane and CC-DB Clash in Parliament over Study of Russian Language in School

During Thursday's plenary sitting, the opposition parliamentary groups of Vazrazhdane and Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) clashed over the study of Russian language in Bulgarian schools. The heated exchange of accusations by several MPs led to formal warnings from National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova for using offensive language during their speeches.

At the start of the sitting, MP Ivaylo Papov read out a declaration on behalf of Vazrazhdane accusing members of the CC-DB group of initiating a cultural and education purge through a certain question that CC-DB have asked the Ministry of Education and Science. "We are witnessing an unprecedented attempt to drag the Ministry of Education and Science into a malicious and harmful propaganda campaign through absurd questions with an obvious political agenda. The sole purpose is to stigmatize every student, parent, teacher, or school principal who dares to support the study of the Russian language in Bulgarian schools," the declaration reads.

Papov urged the Ministry of Education not to cooperate in what he called "the fascist aspirations of the fascists from CC-DB who seek to barbarically crush the pursuit of knowledge."

“When it comes to the Russian language - one of the richest and most influential languages, the language of those who, with spears in hand, brought Bulgaria its freedom and created modern Bulgaria - suddenly, an alarm is triggered by the new political informant, the political Janissary, armed not with a secret police file but with a parliamentary ID card. Suddenly, we realize that the liberal demons of these Janissaries have reached unimaginable heights. The irony is complete: it is these same so-called democrats who banned referenda together with GERB and BSP, and now want to decide on behalf of parents which language their children will study,” Papov added.

He called on the Ministry of Education to resist pressure from what he described as "political marginals who have confused democracy with witch-hunting." “Bulgaria is a sovereign state and our education system must not be governed by anti-Russian hysteria orchestrated by foreign embassies and their obedient Janissaries,” Papov said.

He received a formal warning from National Assembly Kiselova for the use of the offensive word "Janissaries", meaning a military corps in the Ottoman Empire originally composed of Christian boys forcefully taken from their families, including Bulgarian ones during Ottoman rule, to serve the Sultan.

Afterwards, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov received a formal warning as well, for stating that his parliamentary group would not stop "calling the Janissaries, Janissaries".

In response, Yavor Bozhankov MP of CC-DB read out a declaration on behalf of his parliamentary group stating that they have never opposed the study of any foreign language, including Russian, nor have CC-DB advocated for banning it. Bozhankov explained that the Education Ministry has specific oversight responsibilities, and CC-DB's question to the Ministry that triggered Vazrazhdane's declaration concerns Russian state-affiliated foundations and organizations directly involved in spreading propaganda.

“These foundations and organizations are under international sanctions, and some of their members have been sanctioned for corruption. Our questions are aimed at clarifying specific information regarding such propaganda channels. If we all agree that propaganda - in all its forms - is unacceptable in Bulgarian schools, then I don't see the problem,” Bozhankov said. However, he added, "the problem is clear - no less than the Kremlin’s official spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, responded to our parliamentary inquiry, attacking Bulgarian MPs simply for asking questions and seeking information.”

"That is a direct interference in Bulgaria's internal affairs. Why would a state that has labeled Bulgaria an enemy be concerned? Why are Bulgarian MPs - who have signed cooperation agreements with Putin’s party - reacting in this chamber?” Bozhankov asked.

He specified that one Russian organization - the Russkiy Mir Foundation - is responsible for spreading Russian propaganda and culture in Bulgarian schools. Among its leadership are Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova and Russian Patriarch Kiril, Bozhankov noted.

"If you're so concerned about propaganda in schools, are you not concerned about Russian propaganda?” he asked MPs from Vazrazhdane.

A heated exchange followed between Tsoncho Ganev MP of Vazrazhdane and Manol Peykov MP of CC-DB, who received a formal warning from the National Assembly Chair for the use of offensive language. In his speech, Peykov accused Vazrazhdane leader Kostadinov of multiple lies. "He lied about [COVID-19] vaccines, claiming they were harmful while secretly getting vaccinated himself. He lied about protecting the Bulgarian lev, while keeping his savings in euro. He repeatedly lied about me being drunk, while knowing full well I don’t drink at all," said Peykov. His microphone was cut, and a 15-minute break was called due to escalating tensions between Peykov and MPs of Vazrazhdane.

Upon resuming, Peykov announced that he intended to sue Kostadinov and Ganev for defamation. "With the money, I’ll buy two drones and send them to Ukraine," he added.

Peykov is known for organizing fundraisers in support of Ukraine, including one to buy drones for the Ukrainian Land Forces.

Kostadinov replied that Peykov was spreading "outright lies" and denied ever being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding foreign currency accounts. “If I have to stoop to your level, I will sue you - not to buy drones, but a whole airplane,” he told Peykov.