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

Export ban on Russian oil products to take effect from 1 January

MPs lift derogation for Russian oil

Vazrazhdane, ITN Lawmakers protest against the vote, get physical

Photo: BTA

The National Assembly has voted in first reading to end prematurely the exemption for the import of Russian oil approved by the European Commission. The adopted amendments will ban the import of fuels produced from Russian crude oil from 1 March 2024 and suspend their export from 1 January 2024.

Lawmakers also approved in first reading the abolition of a 20 leva per megawatt-hour trade fee on the import and transit of Russian natural gas. The decision was prompted by Hungary's threat to veto the country's accession to the Schengen area.

At the start of the session, MPs from the Vazrazhdane and There is Such a People parties again tried to disrupt the vote by forming a human chain around the rostrum. They did the same last week during a protest against the demolition of the Red Army monument in Sofia. 

There were physical clashes, but in the end work continued and MPs spoke from the rostrum using a hand-held microphone.



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

Bulgarian producers want more farmers' markets

The situation in the country illustrates the urgent need for the state to create conditions for holding more farmers' markets, where farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers. This was stated by the Bulgarian Farmers' Union in connection..

published on 2/20/25 5:31 PM

Cocaine worth over 400 thousand leva seized near Simitli

A specialized police operation by the Directorate of the Bulgarian Anti-Drug and Drug Enforcement Administration (GDBOP) uncovered an organized crime group operating in the Blagoevgrad region , related to the distribution of narcotics.  5 kg of..

published on 2/20/25 5:18 PM
Stanislav Balabanov

Bulgarian Parliament to issue declaration against sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine

Over 70% of Bulgarians are categorically against sending a military contingent to Ukraine. This was stated by Dimitar Ganev from the sociological agency “Trend” in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. President Radev opposes sending..

published on 2/20/25 1:14 PM