Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Assen Vassilev: Rumen Radev's action in defence of Gazprom is a disgrace for the presidential institution

Photo: BGNES

President Rumen Radev has referred to the Constitutional Court the decision by Sofia to impose a gas transit fee, but this will not stop the implementation of the law and I am waiting for the first revenues on November 14, said Finance Minister Assen Vassilev. He added that all states using the gas transit network through the country would have to verify whether the fuel was of Russian origin.
The minister accused the head of state of defending Gazprom rather than the national interest. "The national interest is the interest of the Republic of Bulgaria, not the Russian Federation or Gazprom," he stressed at a briefing. 
Assen Vassilev insisted that Rumen Radev's decision was against the policy of Bulgaria and its government and was a disgrace to the presidential institution.
PM Nikolay Denkov
Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov also commented on Rumen Radev's decision to appeal to the Constitutional Court. "The president is in no way protecting Bulgarian interests, and whether he is protecting foreign interests - everyone can think for themselves. Maybe he is protecting the interests of other countries - Russia, Hungary, Serbia, I don't know, but he is not protecting Bulgaria's interests," he said from Brussels. 

The prime minister recalled that all the information about Bulgaria's decision to charge a transit fee for Russian gas had been sent to the European Commission, but no one there had said that it was not legitimate.



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

No one has requested Bulgaria's participation in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine

Nowhere and in no way has anyone discussed the issue of sending troops to Ukraine to participate in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev told MPs in parliament. Foreign Minister Georgiev..

published on 2/20/25 11:34 AM
Photo: Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles

Beverly Hills declares March 3 as Bulgarian–American Friendship Day

On February 19th, the day when Bulgarians worldwide commemorate 152 years since the passing of the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski, Bulgaria’s National Liberation Day, March 3rd, received special recognition in Beverly Hills.  Mayor Lester Friedman..

published on 2/20/25 10:09 AM
Photo: 'Balkan Bridge Association, Bitola

Balkan Bridge Association opens office in Bitola

An office of the association for culture, education, and tradition "Balkan Bridge" was opened in Bitola in the presence of Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Zhelyazko Radukov, Bulgarian Consul General in Bitola Nikolay Dimitrov, diplomats and..

published on 2/20/25 9:44 AM