Ukraine Queries Bulgarian President’s ‘Crimea is Russian’ Remark

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev giving a statement in Sofia, 14 November 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

Russian forcibly annexed the Ukrainian territory in 2014 and neither the US nor the EU have recognised this act.

"The words of the current Bulgarian president do not contribute to the development of good neighbourly relations between Ukraine and Bulgaria and are sharply dissonant with Sofia's official position on supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders," the Foreign Ministry's statement said. 

Radev made the remark during a TV debate between him and his centre-right opponent, Anastas Gerdjikov, ahead of the presidential runoff on Sunday.

Radev is expected to be re-elected after winning 49.4 per cent of votes cast in the first round.

When questioned by Gerdjikov about whether he regrets his criticism of EU sanctions on Russia, imposed after the 2014 annexation, Radev responded: "Crimea is Russian, what else can it be?"

He has not yet issued a response to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's complaint.

As he did in 2016, Radev is running for the presidency as an independent candidate, supported by the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Gerdjikov is also running as an independent candidate, but is backed by former PM Boyko Borissov's centre-right GERB party.

Gerdjikov also received criticism following his TV appearance, not over Ukraine but for allegedly underestimating the need for reforms, following years of GERB's dominance of local politics, during which time it became associated with numerous controversies and corruption claims. 

Radev may be strengthened further by the victory in the legislative elections of a...