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

Why Bulgarian MEPs voted against the designation of Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

Euriopean Parliament
Photo: BGNES

With an overwhelming majority, MEPs adopted a resolution recognising Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Out of the total of 12 MEPs from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats who voted against the resolution, 5 are Bulgarian MEPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Here is how Petar Vitanov, chairman of the delegation of Bulgarian socialists motivated his own vote against the resolution, and that of his colleagues: “You can’t have a resolution calling for restricting all diplomatic contacts. That means not seeking a peaceful settlement, negotiations, but further escalation instead. This harsh rhetoric, I think, means giving Putin free rein. Designate him a terrorist, and you are, to all intents and purposes, giving him the freedom to do whatever he likes in Ukraine, without regard for anything.”

Two of the Bulgarian MEPs, Eva Maydell from the European People’s Party and Andrey Slabakov from the European Conservatives and Reformists, did not take part in the vote.

Reporting by BNR’s correspondent in Brussels Anguelina Piskova



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

Every third Bulgarian is ready to defend democracy, every fifth the homeland: survey

Democracy is consistently perceived by a solid majority in Bulgarian society as the best form of governance. Approximately 1.5 million citizens declare their willingness to risk their personal security to protect it, according to a representative study..

published on 11/6/25 11:53 AM

Bulgaria's second-largest trade union "Podkrepa" opposes draft Budget 2026

The Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa" does not support the government's proposed state budget for 2026 , the union announced.  As reasons, the second most important trade union in the country points out "the lack of policies and reforms to address..

published on 11/6/25 10:35 AM

Mysterious Russian ship sails near Black Sea coast

The phantom ship VIVA 962 has changed at least 10 names and many owners before it surprisingly appeared near Cape Emine on November 1. The crew consists of a captain and a mechanic with Ukrainian passports from Kharkov, reports the "24 Chasa" portal...

published on 11/6/25 10:12 AM