The party Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) stated that Russia has requested permission to open a Consulate General in Varna under the pretext of the “principle of reciprocity.” According to DSB, the facility is planned to be located just 200 meters from the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy, as reported Bulgarian News Agency.
DSB claims that Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already submitted the request for approval to the State Agency for National Security, but the process is dragging on, which could result in “tacit consent.” The party calls the initiative “an attempt at a hostile placement of an operational base” near a key NATO military facility and recalls that the consulate in Varna was closed in October 2023 after the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats over national security threats.
Given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, its designation of Bulgaria as a “hostile state,” and repeated attempts by Russian intelligence to use diplomatic cover for espionage and hybrid operations, restoring the consulate near a NATO base poses a direct threat, DSB believes. The party urges the MFA to immediately and categorically reject Moscow’s request to protect Bulgaria’s national security and its allied commitments.
