site.btaPresident's Press Secretariat Points to Rumen Radev's Acknowledgement that Crimea Was Annexed in Violation of International Law

November 22 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev's Press Secretariat said on Monday that the President has stated on more than one occasion that Crimea's annexation violated international law. "This is a position which Bulgaria has expressed clearly in all international organizations," the Press Secretariat said. It noted:

"From a legal point of view Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and Bulgaria has repeatedly declared its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On the other hand, as President Rumen Radev stressed in the campaign debate, 'at present' Crimea is controlled by Russia and it is crystal clear that the problem cannot be solved by force. On more than one occasion, including during the debate, the President has expressed concern about this factual situation which creates tension in international relations, particularly in the Black Sea region, which has a direct bearing on the security of Bulgaria and its allies.

"President Radev has repeatedly voiced concern about a possible escalation of tensions in the region, particularly in Eastern Ukraine, and has called for adequate measures to strengthen trust and dialogue, which would ease confrontation and would create conditions for a peaceful solution to the conflict."

The Press Secretariat's statement follows a comment made by Radev in a televised public debate on November 18 ahead of the Bulgarian presidential run-off elections three days later. Radev said Crimea is "Russian", and Western sanctions against Moscow are not delivering the expected results. He repeated the comment while speaking to journalists on November 19.

These remarks led Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to summon the Bulgarian Ambassador in Kyiv and to express its expectation for Radev to retract his comments, which it said jarred with Sofia's official position. European Commission spokesman Peter Stano reiterated the EU position on Crimea, saying "Crimea is Ukrainian territory that was illegally annexed in a violation of international law by Russia". The US Embassy in Sofia said in a Facebook post that the United States is deeply concerned by the recent statements of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in which he referred to Crimea as "Russian". LG/VE