Russian engineering union Soyuzmash has refused to sign a cooperation agreement with its Bulgarian counterpart over Sofia's tacit support for sanctions, TASS reported on Wednesday.

In an open letter to the Bulgarian Branch Chamber - Machine Building signed by Soyuzmash head and MP Vladimir Gutenev, the association cites anti-Russian sentiment and support for measures that the West imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Russian engineering companies "can't help taking into account the policy of sanctions against Russia on behalf of the political leadership of Bulgaria."

The letter also reads that the very same policy had repercussions on projects such as the South Stream pipeline and the Belene nuclear plant.

Combined with attitudes among "part of Bulgarian citizens" with regard to Moscow, Soyuzmash "finds it inappropriate to sign an interaction agreement".

This comes ahead of a Bulgaria-Russia forum [RU] due in Moscow on May 26. According to the official information, engineering companies are also to send representatives to the event.

Soyuzmash represents some 3 million people occupied in different sectors of engineering.

In the words of Gutenev, such cooperation agreements contribute "to an expansion of bilateral economic ties, development of cooperation between engineering companies, educational institutions, the implementation of joint production programs, exchange of experience."

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