site.btaInnovation Minister: Next Refugee Wave Will Be from Russia

Innovation and Growth Minister Daniel Lorer Saturday said that the next refugee wave will be from Russia, and Bulgaria should be ready organizationally and legislatively to welcome a significant number of refugees from that country. "Bulgaria has already accommodated several hundred Russian economic refugees, mostly highly qualified engineers, who understand what economic ruin is coming there and are seeking a better future for themselves and their families," he told Nova TV.

For the first time there is a threat on Russia's part to Bulgaria's economic security, Lorer went on to say, commenting on the discontinuation of Russian gas supplies to Bulgaria as of April 27. In his words, that is a fundamental change and "we expect from the President [Rumen Radev] to have the courage to say that to the Bulgarian society and to stand by us". "The President's position is disgraceful in a situation where Bulgaria is facing economic blackmail: [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's actions aim to stop Bulgarian factories, to stop our heating at home. In such an economic attack against our country, we cannot divide into Left and Right, young and old, Russophiles and Russophobes," Lorer argued. 

Reacting to the news of Gazprom Export discontinuing gas supplies to Bulgaria, earlier this week President Radev called on the Government to explain why only gas supplies for Poland and Bulgaria have been suspended. “It is high time the Government showed real proof that it stands by Bulgaria's sovereignty and that it is guided in its policy by the Bulgarian national interest,” noted the head of State. 

Lorer went on to say that not a single Bulgarian employer wants Gazprom, to pay in rubles for Russian gas, and Bulgaria to violate the EU sanctions against Russia, "but everyone wants gas at reasonable prices so that we can remain competitive". As that is a common European problem, the negotiations on gas supplies should be held at the European level, the Minister said.