Moscow has warned the Bulgarian authorities that any aggressive and unlawful act against Russia and its citizens will not go unanswered, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a regular briefing.
The reason for this reaction was the declaration adopted by the Bulgarian parliament on July 23rd, in which Russia, in a spirit of solidarity with the European Parliament, is described as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
“In that declaration, alongside the usual rhetoric about so-called Russian aggression, there is also an expression of solidarity with the European Parliament in labeling Russia as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism,’ as they phrased it,” said Zakharova. According to her, such statements represent an attempt by the Bulgarian authorities to “belatedly join the locomotive of European Russophobia.”
Zakharova accused the West of, while accusing Russia, at the same time, “openly financing and arming the Kyiv regime,” which, she claims, “carries out terrorist acts, targets civilians, and uses methods of intimidation.” She added that the West “turns a blind eye to its own role in sponsoring terrorism.”
“Such loud and baseless accusations against our country are most often aimed at creating a basis for new sanctions,” warned Zakharova. “Any aggressive and unlawful act against our country, its people, and property will not go unanswered. Bulgarian lawmakers must keep this in mind and carefully weigh their decisions, taking into account the inevitable consequences,” she concluded.
Disputed property near Lake Iskar: a threat to national security?
Relations between the two countries have further deteriorated due to property used by the Russian Embassy, located in the village of Dolni Pasarel, in a protected water source zone near Lake Iskar, the main reservoir for Sofia’s water supply.
Atanas Atanasov, Deputy Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly from the “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, stated that the Russian Embassy has no legal basis for using that property.
“The property is formally registered as state-owned, and the regional governor of Sofia, as the state’s representative, must immediately take measures to reestablish state control over it,” Atanasov told reporters after a session of the Committee for Oversight of the Security Services.
During the committee session, acting director of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), Denyo Denev, answered questions related to a sign placed at the location, which reads: “This site is managed by the Russian Federation.”
Atanasov stated that SANS should issue an official directive to the regional governor to initiate legal proceedings to reclaim the land. He explained that SANS’s involvement is justified as this is a matter of national security.
“Some Bulgarian institutions have shown shocking irresponsibility. Russia declared Bulgaria a hostile state three years ago, and this land, used since the 1970s, poses a potential security risk because it is located in the immediate vicinity of Sofia’s main water supply system,” emphasized Atanasov.
He added that the land contains two buildings that were previously used as holiday facilities but are still regularly visited by employees of the Russian Embassy. “This is not an abandoned plot in the middle of nowhere – it is located in the heart of the water supply zone of Bulgaria’s capital. The risks are serious,” he warned.
Tense relations with no signs of easing
The declaration of the Bulgarian parliament and the property dispute further worsen already-strained relations between Sofia and Moscow, which have significantly deteriorated since the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Bulgaria, as a member of NATO and the European Union (EU), increasingly aligns its policies with its European partners and adopts a harsher stance toward Russia.
The Russian Federation, on the other hand, reacts strongly to any attempts at legal or political isolation, accusing the West of double standards and “collective Russophobia.”
At this moment, there are no signs indicating a de-escalation of tensions. Russian threats of a “response” to actions by the Bulgarian authorities, as well as warnings from Bulgarian officials about security threats, suggest the possibility of further escalation in relations between the two countries, Klix.ba writes.
