Bulgaria has successfully defended its national interests within the European Union, securing the removal of three specific names from the 21st sanctions package against Russia, Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced. Prior to the package being discussed, the country explicitly requested the EU to exclude certain individuals, a request that has now been granted.
The individuals the country insisted be removed from the sanctions regime are:
- Russian Patriarch Kirill;
- Vagit Alekperov, co-owner of "Lukoil";
- Iskander Mahmudov, who is linked to a company supplying components for the Sofia metro.
Bulgaria's position regarding Patriarch Kirill is that religion should not become an additional factor in the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The argument against sanctions on Vagit Alekperov is related to the strategic importance of the "Lukoil" refinery to the country. Regarding Iskander Mahmudov, the Prime Minister explained that his company produces spare parts for the metro's running gear in the capital. "Anything related to the safety of Bulgarian citizens during their commute, we treat as a matter of national security," Radev stated.
"We have always been part of collective European decisions, but we treat these three individuals as a matter of our national interest, and if our request had not been met, we would not have supported these sanctions," the Prime Minister explained. He made these remarks at the Council of Ministers, where Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was also in attendance.
As examples of similar defense of positions within the EU, Radev cited Greece, which protected its economic interests during the sanctions discussions, as well as France, which requested a change in the approach toward Russian oligarchs for the next sanctions package. "It was evident that there is nothing wrong with any member state standing up for its national interest," Rumen Radev concluded.