Bulgarians who got insulted by a comment that Russia will buy the entire Bulgaria have to differentiate between what is serious and what is not, Russian MP-elect Pyotr Tolstoy has said.

Tolstoy made headlines in Bulgaria after telling a Bulgarian TV reporter, in the day of State Duma elections: "We will buy out the entire [Bulgaria]," adding his country had done the same with half of the Bulgarian coastline.

On Sunday, a week after his remark, he told private bTV station he was sorry that the "lack of sense of humour created so much fuss in friendly Bulgaria."

"Of course it was a joke," he confirmed, answering to a question about Russian residential properties at the Black sea.

However, on the footage Tolstoy could be heard making the controversial comment after the reporter tells him he should pursue a benevolent policy toward Bulgaria if elected.

Tolstoy made clear his words did not represent the ruling United Russia aparty or President Vladimir Putin in any way, adding the latter probably had "more important work to do" than to discuss jokes.

Asked by the host, he said Russia would accordingly accept comments about Crimea or the Caucasus not being part of Russia as a joke.

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