site.btaMedia Review: August 12

UPCOMING TRUMP-PUTIN TALKS

Ahead of Friday's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, the media canvass expert opinions about the possible outcome.

Trud quotes Britain's The Telegraph as saying Ukraine is prepared to cede territory held by Russia. The Bulgarian daily also quotes an interview of Russia's TASS news agency with Scott Ritter, a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, and a former UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) weapons inspector, who said "Ukraine will inevitably lose territories, and Vladimir Zelensky needs to think about his future".

Interviewed by the Bulgarian National Radio, Ilian Vassilev, Bulgaria's former ambassador in Moscow, said that Donald Trump would benefit from consulting more with American diplomats, who understand the processes in Russia. Vassilev expects that in the days before the summit, the US President will try to lower expectations. "He calls it 'a feel-out meeting'. Trump will try to throw Putin a lifeline in various ways, but he cannot give Russia what it really needs." Vassilev also said Europe is an unavoidable factor, and Putin depends heavily on Europe, but he has greatly underestimated this dependence. Restoring relations with European countries depends entirely on ending the war in Ukraine in a way that prevents future conflicts and does not set a precedent for territorial expansion by military means as the inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle in European relations. Vassilev commented that Russian imperial policy has remained unchanged over the centuries. In Russia, war is the main business. The country has never developed an economic model that would bring prosperity or justify the existence and unity of its diverse groups and republics. The war [against Ukraine] has drained all accumulated reserves during Putin's rule and now the country is on the brink of financial collapse, the analyst said.

24 Chasa has interviewed Sergey Petrov-Aradzhioni, a Bulgarian-born political analyst of Ukrainian origin, about a possible deal at the Trump-Puttin meeting. The key takeaway from the interview is that this game of attrition cannot go on indefinitely as millions will pay the price. Unfortunately, Kyiv must heed the US, as the alternative is a Europe that has diminished its own standing. A direct Russia-Ukraine meeting requires readiness from both sides, which is not there at present. Commenting on President Trump's talk of land swaps between Russia and Ukraine, the analyst says territories hold mostly symbolic value, as after the battles they are literally just land, often completely destroyed settlements. The challenge is not just owning the territory but restoring it and convincing people to live there. The bigger issue in the war is not merely achieving a temporary peace, but maintaining it and what the actual border between the two countries would look like.

Citing the Foreign Ministry, 24 Chasa covers the participation of Bulgaria's chief diplomat Georg Georgiev in an informal videoconference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. The meeting discussed the latest developments in diplomatic efforts to end Russia's aggression in Ukraine, coordination with transatlantic partners ahead of the upcoming meeting in Alaska, and the EU's continued solidarity and comprehensive support for Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said.

HOME SCENE

24 Chasa has a story on President Rumen Radev's veto on amendments to the Environmental Protection Act, the Investment Promotion Act and the State Property Act. The daily says Radev vetoed a third attempt in Bulgaria to speed up procedures for building road infrastructure. He rejected amendments to the Environmental Protection Act and the Investment Promotion Act that would have limited court appeals on environmental assessments to a single judicial instance. Additionally, he blocked changes to the State Property Act that would have made it easier to sell state-owned properties which are surplus to requirements.

Mediapool.bg notes that the government is trying to cast the sale of certain properties as a positive move. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that proceeds from the sales would fund public infrastructure projects such as kindergartens. The government even published a list of the properties, which included controversial items, such as land along the border with Turkiye, facilities at a special forces base near Sofia, a Roman amphitheatre in the centre of the capital, and valuable coastal plots. After opposition protests, the government withdrew the list and announced it would seek parliamentary approval before proceeding with any sales.

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Trud has interviewed Hristo Radkov, head of the Bulgarian Drivers' Union, who criticizes MPs for adopting over 100 amendments to the Road Traffic Act in general, and the concept of "average speed" in particular, under pressure from street rallies and without consulting experts. For instance, two MPs from Continue the Change proposed introducing a minimum 300-metre distance between vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Radkov argues this would increase accidents by encouraging cars and motorcycles to overtake and cut into the gap, risking numerous head-on collisions. After he explained this to the heads of parliamentary committees, the proposal was dropped before reaching the plenary.

Asked about the point of introducing average speed monitoring by toll system and municipal cameras, Radkov says it is pointless, as mobile apps can alert drivers to monitored stretches, calculate their average speed in real time, and advise them to slow down to avoid penalties. While the system still exists in France, Italy and Slovenia, its effectiveness is limited, and in some places enforcement has been reduced due to low violation rates. He also questions data cited by the Interior Ministry, which claims that just over 9,000 people are injured in road accidents annually, while the Health Ministry puts the figure at 12,000. In his view, the discrepancy comes from traffic police officers recording three injured instead of four, allegedly to adjust statistics and avoid criticism from superiors about the high number of crash casualties in their area.

ECONOMY

Trud warns that Bulgaria is at risk of losing part of its national gene pool as a sheep pox outbreak has destroyed half of the native sheep breeds in Plovdiv Region. Over 100 outbreaks have been registered, including one at the Agricultural University Plovdiv. In the past 40 days, around 2,000 sheep, some 50% of the flocks in that region, have been culled. Experts warn that inadequate assessment by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency threatens the permanent loss of breeds preserved for 35 years. So far, more than 13,000 animals have been destroyed nationwide, with the situation resembling Greece's outbreak, where over 200,000 sheep were culled. Bulgaria's smaller livestock population makes this particularly damaging to its already diminished sheep farming sector, says Simeon Karakolev, head of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Association. At the same time, vaccination poses business risks, as many countries restrict trade in products from vaccinated animals. Since Bulgaria exports about 70% of its sheep and goat milk products, vaccination could severely impact farms and processors reliant on export, says Karakolev. This concern has contributed to Greece's large-scale outbreak, as vaccination could have stopped its feta cheese exports worth around one billion euro a year.

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The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Trud report that the trade unions and employers have been discussing a draft government decree proposing to raise the official poverty line from the current BGN 638 to BGN 764 as of January 1. According to the latest data, 1.4 million people, nearly 22% of the population, live below the poverty line, which is recalculated annually using a special methodology. Duma frontpages a story headlined "Poverty Line to Go Up by BGN 126".

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In a story headlined "Law Creates Conditions for High Food Prices", Trud frontpages a statement by the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) on an agrifood supply chain bill. BIA says the bill poses serious risks of violating key EU and constitutional principles, distorting the domestic market, undermining competition, and opening the way for administrative arbitrariness. The main concerns include additional restrictions on contractual freedom, unequal treatment of small and large retailers, unjustified requirements to publish prices, and a disproportionate obligation to offer a fixed percentage of goods made from Bulgarian raw materials. At present, many people shop at large retail chains only when the discount is at least 20%, and the draft law would end this opportunity to buy cheaper goods.

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Interviewed by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Dimitar Hadzhidimitrov, head of the Association of Bulgarian Fuel Traders, Manufacturers, Importers and Carriers, said many petrol stations, especially smaller ones, had been left without fuel for several days due to a shortage of bioethanol needed to meet the 10% blending requirement. The issue stems from supply problems with a Ukrainian contractor, affecting several European countries. Large chains may file claims over disrupted deliveries, while smaller towns are hit hardest as they lack big-brand outlets.

On bTV, Svetoslav Benchev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association, commented that there are logistical problems related to the supply of bioethanol due to a "perfect storm": a factory closure in Hungary, the European Commission imposing quotas on raw materials and biofuels from Ukraine, and increased demand. According to him, the situation is gradually stabilizing and there is no need to panic.

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24 Chasa reports that Bulgaria's five largest banks have extended the promotional period for fee-free cash deposits in the local currency, responding to growing interest ahead of eurozone entry on January 1. UniCredit Bulbank reported an 80% increase in leva cash deposits by individuals in 2025, with the average deposit amount rising nearly 40%. Initially set to end on August 10, the fee-free period has now been extended to the end of September.

AIR PASSENGER ISSUES

In the wake of several scandals since early June over neglect of passengers at Bulgarian airports and on planes, 24 Chasa looks at passengers' complaints. In six months, 839 air passengers have filed complaints against airlines and ground operators. In the whole of 2024, there were 1,638 complaints, compared to 1,385 in 2023, which is considered an average level, according to data provided to the daily by DG Civil Aviation Administration.

On August 8, a Ryanair pilot had a Bulgarian family removed from a flight at Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport due to safety concerns regarding their child's battery-powered wheelchair. The incident sparked a strong public reaction. Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov reacted promptly and referred the matter to the anti-discrimination watchdog.

24 Chasa publishes the opinion of Mario Bakalov on the incident. Lufthansa pilot Bakalov, the only Bulgarian who flies the largest plane, Airbus A380, said on Facebook that according to international aviation regulations, the final decision on taking passengers and cargo always lies with the captain of the flight, who takes into account all safety factors and regulations. Bakalov advises passengers to inform the airline, when booking a ticket, about the type of battery in the wheelchair and, if possible, its model.

In a Nova TV interview, Elka Bozhova, Chair of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, said the air carrier can be fined if found to have violated anti-discrimination legislation. The airline said that since the ground staff at Sofia Airport could not verify whether the wheelchair's gel battery was insulated, they were unable to load the chair onto the plane. The company also claimed that when passengers were informed of this, they became aggressive on board.

On BNT former discrimination watchdog member Petar Kichashki said the airline had been treating people with disabilities poorly for years. Their business model is built around keeping the aircraft as light as possible to reduce fuel consumption, and electric wheelchairs are quite heavy. He added that such conduct is unacceptable under EU regulations.

GALLUP INTERNATIONAL BALKAN

Several media, including Trud and dnevnik.bg, report that on Monday, the Gallup International Association (GIA) distanced itself from polls published in the Bulgarian media under the titles Gallup, Gallup International, or Gallup International Balkan. Its press release said: "Neither the Gallup International Association nor any member of the Gallup International Association is involved in these polls, nor are these polls and their publication authorized by the Gallup International Association." In 2024, Andrey Raychev and Kancho Stoychev sold Gallup International Balkan, and its current owners are Borislav Tsekov and Petar Kichashki.

Trud carries a press release by Gallup International Balkan reacting to what it calls "inaccurate and false claims on the Club Z website". The daily quotes Borislav Tsekov as saying in the press release that in August 2024, amid ongoing negotiations with Gallup, Inc., Gallup International Balkan formally notified GIA that it was ending its affiliation with the Zurich-based non-governmental association. Since then, the polling agency has not participated in GIA's activities. Its domestic opinion polls for Bulgarian clients have never been organized or financed by GIA. The association holds no legal rights to the trademarks Gallup or Gallup International in Bulgaria or Switzerland, and therefore cannot grant licences to use them; such rights belong to Gallup, Inc. of the United States. The name "Gallup International Balkan" was filed with the Patent Office as a trademark in 2023 by Gallup International Balkan, with Gallup, Inc. lodging an opposition. That proceeding was suspended in May 2025 due to negotiations between the Bulgarian and US companies, Tsekov said.

NORTH MACEDONIA

Trud features an analysis by Kostadin Filipov, a long-time correspondent in Skopje, who comments on the eighth local elections in the Republic of North Macedonia, scheduled for October 19 and November 2. He says all political forces have been campaigning long before the dates were set. The stakes are high for Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and his VMRO-DPMNE party: an overwhelming victory in the local elections would allow him to exercise power in its most concentrated form. He already holds a solid parliamentary majority, but it is a coalition majority, leaving him uncertain of securing the two-thirds support needed for certain policies. The presidential institution is fully under his control, and now he is seeking dominance at the local level. If forecasts prove correct, a strong local win could encourage him to call early parliamentary elections to gain even more seats, enabling him to control MPs' actions without having to rely on coalition partners.