site.btaUPDATED Parliament Votes to Send Military-Technical Aid to Ukraine

On 148-46 votes, the Bulgarian Parliament voted to send military-technical aid to Ukraine.  The political groups of GERB-UDF, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Democratic Bulgaria and Bulgarian Rise all backed the decision. So did Continue the Change, except for one MP who abstained. Vazrazhdane voted against. In BSP for Bulgaria, all voted against except for one who voted for.

The draft decision was added to the Friday agenda of the legislature as an extraordinary item. The debate on it was supposed by be held behind closed doors but it transpired that Socialist MPs were streaming it on their phones - which is why the debate was made open.

Parliament's decision follows an earlier one of November 3 in which it mandates the government to draft it and submit it to the legislature for final approval within a month. Economy Minister Nikola Stoyanov, who in charge of the military-industrial complex, told journalists on December 2 that Bulgaria will provide Ukraine with small arms and some ammunition based on a list prepared by the Defence Ministry.

Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on December 8 that the armaments that will be supplied to Ukraine will be in line with his conservative approach.

The information about exact kind and volume of armament that Bulgaria will be sending to Ukraine, is classified.

The MPs are yet to vote a bill to ratify an agreement between the Defence Ministries of Bulgaria and Ukraine on the military-technical aid.