Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Why Bulgarian MEPs voted against the designation of Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

Euriopean Parliament
Photo: BGNES

With an overwhelming majority, MEPs adopted a resolution recognising Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Out of the total of 12 MEPs from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats who voted against the resolution, 5 are Bulgarian MEPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Here is how Petar Vitanov, chairman of the delegation of Bulgarian socialists motivated his own vote against the resolution, and that of his colleagues: “You can’t have a resolution calling for restricting all diplomatic contacts. That means not seeking a peaceful settlement, negotiations, but further escalation instead. This harsh rhetoric, I think, means giving Putin free rein. Designate him a terrorist, and you are, to all intents and purposes, giving him the freedom to do whatever he likes in Ukraine, without regard for anything.”

Two of the Bulgarian MEPs, Eva Maydell from the European People’s Party and Andrey Slabakov from the European Conservatives and Reformists, did not take part in the vote.

Reporting by BNR’s correspondent in Brussels Anguelina Piskova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Elena Yoncheva

Delyan Peevski wants Elena Yoncheva to receive mandate for negotiations with the Houthis in Yemen

The leader of "DPS-New Beginning" Delyan Peevski has called on the caretaker government and all responsible institutions, including the parliament, to give MEP Elena Yoncheva a mandate to negotiate for the release of the captured..

published on 11/4/24 9:29 AM

Bulgarian Vice President opens exhibition dedicated to ancient Thrace in Getty Museum

God has gifted people with an incredible quality - to dream. And we dreamt of hearing Bulgarian in the Getty Museum during the opening of an incredible exhibition. An exhibition dedicated to an ancient people, an exhibition that..

published on 11/4/24 8:47 AM

Kozloduy NPP signs engineering contract for new nuclear facilities with Hyundai and Westinghouse

An engineering contract for the construction of new nuclear facilities at Site No. 2 of the Kozloduy NPP will be signed today with Hyundai and Westinghouse. According to caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov, the..

published on 11/4/24 8:30 AM