site.btaBulgarian Parliament Adopts Declaration Condemning Russia’s Ongoing War Against Ukraine

The National Assembly Wednesday adopted a declaration condemning the ongoing war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The declaration, drafted by the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition, passed with 112 votes in favour, 52 against, and 26 abstentions. The document strongly denounces the political repression carried out by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin and emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen Bulgaria’s national security and sovereignty.

At the outset, the declaration cites several key events: the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014; Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022; documented war crimes including the massacre of civilians in Bucha; provocative actions by the Russian Navy in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea in 2023; a series of sabotage incidents and explosions at Bulgarian military depots linked to Russian intelligence; the inclusion of Bulgaria on Russia’s list of "unfriendly countries" in March 2022; confirmed poisoning cases involving Bulgarian citizens; systematic disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing Bulgarian society; attempts to interfere in Bulgarian elections; and Russian state or affiliated entities owning strategic assets in Bulgaria.

The declaration also references: a European Parliament resolution designating Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism"; NATO’s 2022 Madrid Strategic Concept identifying Russia as the “most significant and direct threat” to Alliance security; The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued on March 17, 2023, against Vladimir Putin for the illegal deportation of children from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia; international conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, that condemn the use of terrorist tactics and war crimes.

Through the declaration, Bulgarian Parliament aligns itself with the European Parliament’s position and expresses strong solidarity with Ukraine, backing international efforts to restore its sovereignty. It explicitly condemns the ongoing Russian aggression, the violations of international law, and the war crimes committed by Putin’s regime.

The document reaffirms Bulgaria’s commitment to fully enforce EU and international sanctions against Russia, including the freezing of Russian state-owned or controlled properties and assets on Bulgarian soil. It supports efforts to enhance the capacity of Bulgarian security agencies and institutions to effectively counter hybrid threats, such as propaganda, disinformation, and foreign interference.

It also highlights the need to accelerate reforms in the security sector, strengthen cybersecurity, and tighten oversight of strategic sites deemed to carry national risk.

Additionally, the declaration confirms Bulgaria’s strategic commitment to NATO, the EU, and the Three Seas Initiative, including through modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and improved national defence capabilities. It supports ongoing humanitarian, military-technical, and material assistance to Ukraine and calls for the release of all unjustly detained individuals. It also stresses the importance of strengthening Bulgaria’s energy independence as a pillar of national security.

Reading the declaration on behalf of the sponsors, MP Yavor Bozhankov emphasized that it reflects a shared European position – one that, until now, had not been formally adopted by the Bulgarian legislature.