Russian Author under Scrutiny from Bulgaria's Security Service

Politics | June 20, 2016, Monday // 10:48
Bulgaria: Russian Author under Scrutiny from Bulgaria's Security Service Sergey Baranov's text claims Moldova and "Novorossiya", a reference to parts of Ukraine, are key to Russia's comeback to the Balkans. File photo, EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's domestic security and counter-intelligence agency DANS is closely monitoring the activities of a Russian social scientist who in May published an article about the country, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

Responding to an inquiry by Metodi Andreev, a lawmakers from his GERB party, Borisov has explained that, while the author's actions do not pose threats and risks to the stability of Bulgaria, the case is being monitored.

"If new information is received about actions of this author or publications of other authors which would give ground to conclude there [are attempts at] harming the interest of Bulgaria, active measures will be [taken], including ones under the law," Parliament's website quotes Borisov as saying.

"The author represents Bulgaria's geopolitical orientation in a negative way", the Prime Minister has also made clear.

In an article published by politnavigator.net [RU], a website describing itself as a project for "news on Ukraine and Crimea", Baranov argues it makes no sense for Russia "to preserve the stability of present-day Bulgaria."

The country is also described as "a territorial platzdarm leading into Serbia."

"Regardless of how much we speak of sympathies of ordinary citizens, Bulgaria is a chronic traitor to Russia. The way it is nowadays it can only be an enemy," he also notes.

The texts suggests that, while bringing Bulgaria to ruin is impossible, it should be "taken out of the hands of the West [and] returned to the camp of [Russia's] allies."

It also outlines a scenario of destabilization for both Bulgaria and Greece, forcing them to leave the EU and NATO and installing "friendly" regimes.

Odessa region is at the center of the strategy, since if Russian troops are stationed there, "the attitude of Bulgaria and Greece will be different."

The article sparked outrage from some lawmakers in Bulgaria. Andreev, an MP who has been an outspoken critic of Russia, but also of ties of Bulgarian politicians and public figures to the Soviet-era services, earlier also called on Sofia to bar Baranov from entering the country.

Baranov's text comes amid a renewed public debate about so-called hybrid warfare tactics applied on Bulgaria as tensions still run high between Russia and the West over the incorporation of Crimea and Moscow's attitude to the developments in Eastern Ukraine.

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Tags: Boyko Borisov, Sergey Baranov, Russia, Bulgaria, greece, DANS, hybrid war, hybrid warfare, Metodi Andreev, GERB

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