(27 Apr 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia - 27 April 2022
1. Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and officials from his party taking seats at news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Kiril Petkov, Bulgarian Prime Minister:
"On the day (Vladimir) Putin unilaterally suspended the gas supplies to Bulgaria, we want to say the following - we continue to change as a political party that will always defend the Bulgarian interest. This means an independent Bulgaria, free and prosperous. Unfortunately, in the recent past, we were treated as Russia's fifth column. And there are many political and economic circles that protect Russia's interests. We, and our party, will protect only Bulgarian interests, which means full independence - being part of the European family."
3. BTA (Bulgarian News Agency) logo
4. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Kiril Petkov, Bulgarian Prime Minister:
"Our party - We Continue the Change - will support military-technical assistance to Ukraine. That is what we believe in, and that will be our vote in parliament next week."
5. Wide of various flags outside BTA building
6. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Dobrin Todorov, Sofia resident:
"I don't think that's such a big problem. Ultimately, the choice is between freedom and dignity, or gas. The answer is clear, in favour of freedom and dignity. Bulgaria and no other country will perish without gas, so we will go through this ordeal. It cannot be compared to the hardship and tribulations that the Ukrainian people are currently suffering."
++BLACK FRAMES++
7. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) (no first name given) Petkov, Sofia resident:
"When the great powers quarrel, Bulgaria has always suffered."
STORYLINE:
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Wednesday his party will "protect only Bulgarian interests" in reaction to Russia cutting off natural gas to his country and fellow NATO member Poland, dramatically escalating its standoff with the West over the war in Ukraine.
Bulgaria, once one of Moscow's closest allies, has cut many of the old ties with Russia after a new liberal government took the reins last fall and further after the invasion of Ukraine.
It has supported sanctions against Russia, has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and has accommodated 90,000 refugees fleeing the war.
Bulgaria has been hesitant to provide military aid to Ukraine, but Petkov and members of his coalition government will leave on Wednesday to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials about further aid to the country.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Petkov said his We Continue the Change party will "support military-technical assistance to Ukraine".
He added the decision was made at a meeting of the party's executive council last night and will be supported in Parliament.
"There are many political and economic circles that protect Russia's interests. We will protect only Bulgarian interests," he added.
Sofia resident Dobrin Todorov said he felt the country's choice was between "freedom and dignity, or gas" - and the answer to him was "clear."
The government press office said Petkov and Defence Minister Dragomir Zakov were being accompanied on Wednesday by members of Parliament to visit Ukraine to meet with the country’s leaders.
In Kyiv, they will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and with members of the 200,000-strong Bulgarian community in Ukraine.
They also will visit Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin, in the Kyiv region, to see damage caused by the Russian invasion.
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