By cutting off gas supplies to Bulgaria, Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to "demonstrate that he could destabilize a European government that has declared a policy of zero tolerance for corruption," Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov wrote in an article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. According to him, Russia had previously used corruption as a favorite tool to influence the state policy in Bulgaria. Hoping for a new, pro-Russian government, the Kremlin aimed at regaining Russian influence in Bulgaria, he wrote.
The Bulgarian PM pointed out that the current government changed the country's dependence on Russian gas from 95% to 0% by signing a contract for the supply of American liquefied natural gas and renegotiating the terms for deliveries from Azerbaijan.
"We are experiencing a crisis that requires bold and smart solutions. In our case, this means a complete abandonment of Russian gas as soon as possible," the Bulgarian prime minister wrote, calling on the EC to find a long-lasting solution to the problem.
On Tuesday it will be sunny and windy in most parts of the country. Clouds will develop in the northeast and along the Black Sea coast, where it may rain in places. Lows will be between 5 and 10°C, 5°C in Sofia. Highs will be between 16 and 21°C...
Bulgaria has begun evacuating our fellow citizens who expressed a desire to leave Beirut following Israel's attacks on Lebanon. Some of the Bulgarians in Lebanon have already been evacuated on a government aircraft flight, BNR's correspondent Mira..
The highest average age of young people in the EU leaving their parental home was recorded in Croatia (31.8 years), Slovakia (31 years), Spain (30.4 years), Bulgaria, and Italy (30 years in both countries). Finland (21.4 years), Sweden and Denmark..
On Monday, there will still be showers in the eastern half of the country. It will stop raining by the evening. Clouds will break in the western part..
Travelling to Israel and staying in the country should be avoided, except in case of emergency, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said...
Nikola Nikolov - Pascal, considered one of the largest smugglers, has been arrested in Serbia during a joint operation by Bulgarian and Serbian..
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