site.btaOverwhelming Majority of Bulgarians Side with Government's Position on Skripal Case

Sofia, April 7 (BTA) - As many as 88 per cent of Bulgarians approve of their Government's position on the Skripal case, Gallup International found in an express telephone poll taken among 801 adults on April 3 and 4.

The Bulgarian Government recalled the Bulgarian ambassador in Moscow for consultations but will return him there after the Orthodox Easter and decided against expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Britain, on March 4, 2018, saying that further evidence of Russia's involvement was needed.

A total of 61 per cent of those polled believe that the principal parties should be unanimous on such issues, and 35 per cent would rather have the ruling party shoulder its responsibility alone.

"Traditionally, Russia is seen in a positive light in this country, and this is now amplified by the influence of the Government's position on public opinion," Gallup International comments. "Against this background, 81 per cent do not see tangible proof of guilt in the situation surrounding the Skripals. To 6 per cent of the Bulgarians, the evidence so far is insufficient."

"The poll detects above all the earliest public instincts in a case in which relatively little information is available and the reports are conflicting. The results take a snapshot of a rather volatile situation. Given the lack of clarity about the case, a majority of 52 per cent believe that the West is to blame for the escalation of tensions, while 18 per cent blame Russia."

A majority of 54 per cent see the Skripal case as a provocation against Russia, while 30 per cent are of the opinion that the West needs to mobilize against the growing Russian aggression in the wake of the Skripal case. The rest are undecided.

Eighty per cent approve of the fact that opposition Socialist leader Kornelia Ninova congratulated Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on his position, 13 per cent disapprove, and the rest are hesitant. Asked to choose between the positions of Borissov (wait and see before acting) and GERB Floor Leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov (take more resolute action to show solidarity with Western partners), 81 per cent opt for Borissov and just 5 per cent for Tsvetanov, while 12 per cent opt for neither and the rest are undecided.