Currently there is no risk of stopping the transit of natural gas from Russia through Bulgaria to other countries. This is what the Russian state agency TASS writes after Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov warned that Bulgartransgaz might stop gas transmission to Serbia and Hungary if it is not clear how payments will be made after December 20. 

The payment is in question due to the sanctions that the US has imposed on Gazprombank. Stopping the transit of Russian gas through Bulgaria is a last resort and is not a topic now, claims an unnamed source identified by the news agency as someone close to Bulgargaz. The next payment should be made by December 20, when the transition period imposed by the US expires. If the problem is not resolved, the dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in the Russian-Bulgarian agreement will come into force. Fines for delay may be imposed. An option is for the recipient countries to pay for transit, the source commented.