The crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate. The Parliament in Simferopol adopted a declaration of independence and the forthcoming referendum this Sunday will decide on the accession of Crimea to Russia. The international reactions are also escalating-the US Senate has adopted a resolution, calling on the US government to impose sanctions against Russia which would make this country withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has announced that it would not send a mission to monitor the referendum in Crimea, because such referendum was illegal. Where does Bulgaria position in this sequence of events?

After the meeting in Berlin with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin said that Bulgaria would not recognize the result of the referendum in Crimea. According to Minister Vigenin, a referendum without the agreement of the central authorities in Kyiv in this situation is inappropriate. This stand in fact supported the new government in Ukraine. Vigenin also voiced similar support during his unexpected visit to Ukraine several days ago.

The stand of the Bulgarian government is similar to the one of the EU and NATO, yet some differences can be outlined. Sofia, for instance, is against possible sanctions against Russia, because according to Premier Plamen Oresharski, “A punishment over Russia means a self-punishment as well”. His view is based on the concerns that Bulgaria could suffer serious economic damage from the crisis, especially in the supply of energy resources. Within this context, Bulgaria fully supports the idea of German Chancellor Angela Merkel which envisages the establishment of a contact group for dialogue between the Russian and the Ukrainian authorities. That is why Minister Vigenin expressed his full support towards his German counterpart Steinmeier. Vigenin also voiced his country’s willingness to provide assistance in line with its capabilities.

Sofia also had to answer questions regarding fears of possible military actions, especially as the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis coincided with the military training in the Black Sea with the participation of naval forces of Bulgaria, Romania and the USA. Minister Vigenin commented on this issue that the demonstration of a military power would not help the countries overcome the current crisis. However, according to Minister Vigenin, the presence of just one American ship should not be viewed as some kind of a threat over Russia and its naval forces and that the participation of Bulgaria in this training did not mean that this country was intending to take part in a demonstration of power. This stand is quite reasonable, because Russia is Bulgaria’s biggest trade partner in 2013. Trade with Russia amounted to over EUR 5 billion which stands for 11% of the total foreign trade. Meanwhile, trade with Ukraine amounted to nearly EUR 1 billion last year, or 2% of the total foreign trade. The exports to Ukraine increased by 75% in 2013 year on year. That is why the Bulgarian business recommends the national authorities to be firmly against a possible military intervention. The parties supporting the Bulgarian government also gave their recommendations to the cabinet. Minister Vigenin was summoned to the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs to participate in the process of formation of a common stand regarding this issue. The Foreign Affairs Committee contends that the new authorities in Kyiv should investigate all cases that caused victims and violence and that they should undertake urgent measures to reduce the political tension and prevent any possible violation of the human rights in that country. The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs also expects that the government should oppose to all forms of extremism and should demand from the Ukrainian authorities to fully guarantee the rights and the security of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine which amounts to nearly 300 thousand people. In other words, tension in Ukraine provokes tension in Bulgaria, too.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov