site.btaPM Zhelyazkov: EU and NATO Defence Must Be Strengthened, Sabotage Groups Operate in Bulgaria as Part of Political Life

Sabotage groups are operational in Bulgaria, and they exert hybrid influence and are part of Bulgaria's political life, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said during Q&A in Parliament Friday. He was asked by MPs whether there is evidence of hybrid attacks and sabotage groups in Bulgaria. "The defence capabilities of the European Union and NATO must be strengthened in order to have a deterrent effect," said also the Prime Minister Rosen.

He also said: "The world is anxious, because information flows - which by nature do not always carry the necessary complete information, but in their diversity represent manipulation, fake news, false news, hybrid influences on the consciousness and emotions of the people receiving them - create this sense of anxiety."

According to him, Bulgaria is no exception. "All the actions currently being undertaken by the Russian Federation, the provocations towards NATO’s eastern flank, and provocations through the fueling of regimes in countries on NATO’s southern flank, create the sense that deepening actions are forthcoming".

"In any case, there is a war in Europe, and it is on the border between Russia and Ukraine," the Prime Minister said. He emphasized that "the optimistic expectations at the beginning of the year, especially after the talks in Alaska, that Presidents Zelensky and Putin might come at the negotiating table and agree at least on a ceasefire and stop the killings at the front, have not materialized".

He mentioned the provocations along the borders of Estonia, Poland, and other countries on the eastern flank. "These provocations, of course, are not a basis for a strong reaction, and the general understanding is that every NATO and EU member state should refrain from strong reactions to avoid escalation," the Bulgarian Prime Minister stated.

According to him, the overall attitude is in favour of deescalating the tension, "but this does not cancel the commitment to early warning, preparedness, and political response to such actions". Part of the necessary measures, according to Zhelyazkov, are related to strengthening defence capacities, including the development of counteraction systems that would have a deterrent effect.