Ukraine Blacklists 2 Bulgarians over National Security Concerns

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday signed a decree to ban a number of journalists and politicians, including two Bulgarians, from entering the country.

Magdalena Tasheva, a lawmaker from ultra-nationalist Ataka party, and journalist Elena Yoncheva have thus been declared a threat to the national security and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Tasheva is well known in Bulgaria for her harsh accusations targeting the post-revolution government in Ukraine dismissed by her as "fascists" and "Banderists". She is also a key member of Ataka, a party known for its close ties to Russia and its rejection of Bulgaria's NATO membership.

Yoncheva, on the other had, is currently a freelance journalists whose documentaries about Ukraine, aired by TV7 (a channel now allegedly passing into the hands of Russian businesses), have sparked outrage in Ukraine which believes they reflect Moscow's point of view. She is also the former partner to Sergey Stanishev, the ex-leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party which is also known for its traditionally good relations with the Kremlin.

The list includes many Russian names, some of the people being described as employees of the BBC, El País, or Die Zeit, alongside officials of the Donbass insurgents operating in Eastern Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and State Duma Chairman Sergey Narishkin are also among the blacklisted.