site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Party Is Launching Consultations with National Assembly to Send Military Aid to Ukraine

Democratic Bulgaria MP Atanas Atanassov said Wednesday that his party is launching consultations to have the National Assembly vote on a bill to have the Bulgarian Government provide military equipment to Ukraine in accordance with Bulgarian capabilities and Ukrainian needs. Atanassov said that the basis for the declaration will be the principled position expressed by Parliament on February 24 which strongly condemned the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.

Atanassov was positive that Ukraine's defence can be effectively supported with adequate weaponry and equipment, which meets the capacity of the Bulgarian military industrial complex.

BSP for Bulgaria parliamentary group floor leader Georgi Svilenski told journalists that the position of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and of the other formations in the BSP for Bulgaria group is unchanged. He added that parties on the left are “expressly against” this country offering military aid to Ukraine. “This is also the position of the National Assembly,” he said adding that his party supports the humanitarian aid for Ukraine, however offering military aid would make this country a direct participant in the war. “Our position is clear and will remain the same, no matter what consultations or dialogues are had. As coalition partners, we are always ready to have a dialogue.”

The There is Such a People and Continue the Change parties also expressed willingness to discuss the proposal of Democratic Bulgaria. Continue the Change MP Nastimir Ananiev commented that he is awaiting more specific information regarding Democratic Bulgaria’s proposal.

In a declaration on behalf of the GERB-UDF parliamentary group, MP Daniel Mitov stressed that GERB-UDF proposes to the Government to join the common efforts and provide military hardware to Ukraine. The proposition is part of a draft resolution to the National Assembly. “I suggest you support this draft decision because the shame will be on you. The consequences of your inaction will burden future generations,” Mitov said.

“We do not accept the Prime Minister’s claim that there is nothing we can do to help Ukraine," Mitov added. In his words, Bulgaria can give Ukraine mobile anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars, machine guns and munitions. According to Mitov, the Bulgarian army has plenty of those and giving some of them will not affect its combat capabilities.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that his party is organizing a rally on April 6 in front of the National Assembly building to protest the Government’s policy on the war in Ukraine. He stated he would rather have the Government toppled than allow them to send military aid.