site.btaPM: Ukrainian Ambassador Was Performing Normal Diplomatic Function in Nevzorov Case

There are no grounds for declaring Ukrainian Ambassador to Bulgaria Olesia Ilashchuk persona non grata: she was doing her job and did not interfere in Bulgaria's internal affairs, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during Question Time in Parliament on Friday. The Prime Minister was responding to a question from Vazrazhdane MP Kosta Stoyanov concerning what he described as "systematic interference by Ukrainian Ambassador Olesia Ilashchuk in Bulgaria's internal affairs". Stoyanov asked whether the Prime Minister would issue a note requesting the recall of the Ukrainian ambassador.

"Declaring someone persona non grata is an extreme, drastic measure and must be based on clear and indisputable facts and established circumstances. At present, there is no such information," the Prime Minister said.

"What we do have is a verbal note from the Ukrainian Ambassador to the Bulgarian institutions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting more information about Ukrainian citizen Oleg Nevzorov following an administrative enforcement measure imposed on him," Radev said.

Oleg Nevzorov is the owner of the KYB group, which is the investor in the infamous Baba Alino residential community that has been built in violation of the rules and might ultimately be turn down. There was an expulsion order briefly in force for Nevzorov over the Baba Alino case. 

"Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, this is a normal function of any diplomatic representative: seek information about citizens of their country residing in the respective state," Radev explained, adding that this was the only documented and known fact at present.

He also said that Nevrozov was questioned by the prosecution service in his capacity as a witness. "Any details about the investigation should be sought from the prosecution service," said the Prime Minister.

He added that wants to know why the acting head of the State Agency for National Security, Denyo Denev, cancelled his own order for Nevzorov's expulsion. "This move was unprecedented. It makes one suspect that there might have been pressure but there is no documentary proof. The verbal note was fully compliant with the standards of the Vienna Convention and was fully within her powers," said Radev.