Soon after Rumen Radev’s victory was confirmed in the second round of the Bulgarian presidential election, the United States on Monday (November 22) criticized Radev in a televised debate last week that “Crimea is temporarily Russian” The comment expressed “deep concern.”
On Sunday, Radev celebrated his victory in the second round. He defeated Anastas Gerdzhikov, the candidate proposed by the center-right GERB party by 66.7% to 31.8%.
But on Monday, the US Embassy in Sofia issued a statement stating that “the United States is deeply concerned about Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s recent remarks that Crimea is referred to as Russia.”
The embassy said: “The United States, the G7, the European Union, and NATO are all very clear and unanimous in our position, that is, despite Russia’s attempts to annex and continue to occupy Crimea, Crimea is still Ukraine.”
“All of us, including Bulgaria, announced at the Crimea Platform Summit in August that Crimea is an inalienable part of Ukraine, and we will not and will not recognize Russia for legalizing its illegal seizure and occupation of the peninsula. Efforts made. In recent days, we have expressed our deep concern to the Bulgarian government in Washington and Sofia.
The “Crimean Platform” is an initiative of Kiev that aims to make the international community remember the issue of Russia’s occupation of the Crimean Peninsula.
In the only televised debate between Radev and Gerdhikov on Thursday (November 18), his opponent asked him to state his position in Crimea.
Radev first said that Western sanctions against Russia brought no results.
“For many years, Russia’s policy has not changed. A more pragmatic policy is needed,” he said.
After being briefly interrupted by his opponent, Radev continued: “For now, Crimea belongs to Russia. Isn’t it?”
Ukraine was the first to respond. On Friday, it summoned the Bulgarian ambassador to Kiev and asked Radev to refute.
On the same day, Radoff tried to minimize the incident.
“There is no drama. The question is very clear. The annexation of Crimea violates international law, as I said in the debate yesterday-there are political facts, currently Crimea belongs to Russia,” he said in the campaign. Said on the last day.
Bulgarian Vice President Ilyana Yotova also commented that Radev and herself are among the European leaders calling for the resumption of the EU-Russia summit. The summit used to be held twice a year, but was suspended in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea.
During his first five-year tenure, Radev was often accused by his opponents of being pro-Russian.
Radev called on the EU to take a pragmatic approach to Russia and may lift EU sanctions.
But he was outspoken on other issues related to Russia, such as the alleged Novichok attack on Bulgarian businessman Emilian Gebrev. According to Bellingcat It was done by Russian agents, and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov largely ignored the incident.
Radev also condemned the Borisov government’s involvement in the recent espionage case. Expose Bulgarian officials Provide confidential information to the Russian Embassy in Sofia.
In the end, the mistakes of “Crimea” did not weaken the voters’ confidence in Radev. He was seen as an ambitious strongman who ambitiously eliminated nepotism and organized crime in Bulgaria.
Moscow is pleased with Radev’s Crimean comments. Russian state-owned RIA-Novosti announced The leaders of the Bulgarian community in Crimea warmly invited Radev to visit “Russian Crimea”.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
