Bulgarian Rightists: PM Borisov Should Not Succumb to Russia

The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov should not capitulate under Russian pressure, the Bulgarian rightist party DSB (Democrats for Strong Bulgaria) stated in a special declaration.

"We are deeply concerned over the ruling GERB party's retreat with regard to Russia's intention to carry out the Belene Nuclear Power Plant ant the South Stream gas pipeline project.," the declaration says.

According to DSB, the Bulgarian Prime Minister's recent retreat under Russian pressure is a sign of a lack of will to defend Bulgarian energy interests.

A potential materializing of those projects would bring about a total energy dependence from Russia, the rightist party declares and condemns that as entirely unacceptable.

DSB blames the "Russian energy lobby" in Bulgaria, which they state has successfully delayed the realization of key energy connections with the gas pipelines of Russia, Greece and Turkey in order to forcefully establish an additional dependence from Russia.

The declaration is a result of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Bulgaria Saturday in order to discuss two crucial Russian energy projects on Bulgarian soil with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov.

The expectations are that on Saturday Borisov and Putin will shake hands on South Stream and the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project.

The third major project in which the Russian state is involved, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline is apparently put on hold, since the the project's environmental impact assessment was stated unsatisfactory by the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment.