The leader of the Vazrazhdane (Revival) pro-Russian Bulgarian party, Kostadin Kostadinov, made controversial statements about his country’s "claims" on a part of the Odesa region, saying that this should be returned back to Bulgaria. Kostadinov's statements were criticized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria, which called on the Bulgarian authorities to condemn such speech, IPN reports, referring to RBK Ucraina.ua.
Kostadinov claimed that "Bulgarians make up the majority of the population in Southern Bessarabia (the southern part of the Odesa region)," and therefore, supposedly, "there is nothing more logical than returning the region back to Bulgaria."
"Ukraine is collapsing, and at the future peace congress, which will decide the fate of the so-called failed Ukrainian statehood, Bulgaria must assert its claims over Bulgarian Bessarabia," the controversial politician posted on Facebook.
In reply, the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria condemned Kostadinov’s statements, accusing him of undermining international law, distorting historical facts, and encouraging the redrawing of borders in Europe.
"The statements by the leader of the Vazrazhdane party regarding territorial claims on Ukraine are unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state and confirm his systematic promotion of Kremlin narratives," the diplomatic mission said in a statement.
In 2023, Russia's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, openly supported Kostadin Kostadinov in the elections. Public support for a political candidate by an ambassador is considered a violation of the Vienna Convention as ambassadors are not allowed to interfere in the electoral process.
