One of the interesting political stories unfolds before the leading Bulgarian news front, accompanied by a lunch in Sofia and conflicting claims described in a publication of the influential "Wall Street Journal".
At the center of the events is former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who gives an interview to Nikolay Barekov, published on the official Facebook page of the GERB party. This conversation comes in connection with the publication of the American edition, revealing details about a meeting between Borisov and Donald Trump Jr.
In the interview, Borisov categorically rejects any idea of a scandal around the meeting. "They invited me to a meeting with Trump Jr., with whom I had a working lunch in Sofia," he says, adding, "I went, we saw each other, we remembered good times, and I left." He also emphasizes the financial commitments the state fulfills, raising the question of why the focus is on this particular meeting. "What scandal is there here, given that today we paid one million and fifty thousand to "Botash". Why don't you ask how this contract was signed," Borisov rhetorically asks.
Borisov denies that Trump Jr. offered offers related to business deals and claims that he did not set a condition for easing the sanctions under the "Magnitsky" law imposed on his allies. "From my side, I told what our opponents did to us - they arrested us, kept us in cells, chipped away at us. I told how they put "Magnitsky" on the person who brought us into the European Banking Union and the Eurozone. I didn't mention Peevski," clarifies the leader of GERB.
According to Borisov, during the meeting he promoted "Balkan Stream". "I always promote "Balkan Stream". His father allowed me to do it and did not allow - President Donald Trump, Bulgaria to be circled, to pass through Greece, Turkey, Italy. And I told him - here's what we've done, it's already working and giving 900 million a year in profit," he explains.
Regarding the topic of the "Lukoil" refinery, Borisov categorically states that he did not discuss such issues. He accuses specific political figures, such as Kiril Petkov and Nikolay Denkov, of showing interest in purchasing "Lukoil", with the help of a former embassy officer. In the end, he makes a comparison, emphasizing his personal connections, ironically noting, "I have sat in front of the fireplace in the White House in the US more times than Kiril Petkov has been in the Council of Ministers,".
Meanwhile, the "Wall Street Journal" presents its point of view. According to the publication, Gentry Beach, a college friend of Donald Trump Jr., shared this spring with his contacts in Bulgaria that the president's son would visit Sofia. This information is confirmed by the fact that Trump Jr. actually arrives in the capital in April as part of his tour of Eastern Europe.
The "Wall Street Journal" describes Boyko Borisov as the most influential person in Bulgaria, who sees an opportunity in this meeting. According to the publication, he hopes that the advertising of the pipeline and other Bulgarian assets can secure him the goodwill of the American president, whom he met in 2019. In addition, according to the publication, Borisov is trying to find a way to ease the sanctions under the "Magnitsky" Act for some of his closest allies.
The journalists from the publication note that Borisov joined Trump Jr. for lunch with the heads of the crypto company "Nexo", who invited the president's son to give a speech. Those present at the lunch say that the former prime minister spoke to Trump Jr. about his respect for his father and expressed hopes for American investments in the pipeline, using a paper map. According to the "Wall Street Journal", Trump Jr. did not show interest in the topic. "Trump Jr. was confused by the conversations about the pipeline and made it clear that he was not interested in it," the article states.
In conclusion, the publication mentions that among current and former Bulgarian government representatives, it is said that Gentry Beach has overestimated his connections with Trump Jr. He, as it is specified, has caused confusion abroad with his efforts to attract investments in various areas, including the mining industry, oil pipelines and real estate.