Der Spiegel: Germany Fears Russia's Influence in Bulgaria

The original article is from German magazine Der Spiegel's website

Berlin is concerned over a growing influence of Russia on the government in Bulgaria, Germany's Der Spiegel has argued in an article.

It says Moscow is developing Sofia as a bridgehead into the EU. The relations are, according to information of [Der] Spiegel, so close that Russia directly influences the legislation.

Internal reports from the German government are warning that a third of the economic output in the country is directly controlled by Moscow.

The information, as the prominent magazine writes, comes from German intelligence sources.

The coalition forged by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the "party of the Turkish minority DPS" (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) "rates as a true helper of Moscow. In the government parties old communist party cadres, secret service collaborators and mega-rich oligarchs making business with Putin's minions are active", Der Spiegel also claims, citing the sources.

It reminds of recently emerged reports of strictly confidential letters from the Russian energy concern Gazprom to the Economy Ministry in Sofia, which proposed legislation versions regarding the construction of the South Stream pipeline.

Der Spiegel also reports that the government, however, has snubbed the European Commission, which warned against the move and has thus prompted a meeting between Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and the Bulgarian Economy Minster Dragomir Stoynev in which the matter was discussed.

"If Bulgaria and really decides on the legal changes, we will respond appropriately and will take the legal steps to guarantee the compliance with EU rules," Oettinger was quoted by the magazine...