site.btaSofia Dismisses Moscow's Allegations of Involvement in Weapons Smuggling from Ukraine

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Friday dismissed allegations by Moscow that it was involved in smuggling weapons from Ukraine, along with Poland, Finland, Romania. "Such aggressive claims are completely unfounded, lack evidence, and are categorically untrue. The Republic of Bulgaria is a full member of the European Union and NATO - organizations based on shared democratic values and principles - and consistently fulfills its commitments to adhere to strict export control standards," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It came in response to remarks by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as quoted by the TASS news agency, that Poland, Finland, Romania and Bulgaria are involved in smuggling Western weapons from Ukraine, with the illegal trade "completely controlled by organized crime, which is protected by corrupt officials."

The Foreign Ministry in Sofia said, "We apply the highest requirements of transparency, accountability, and international legal oversight in the area of arms transfers, with every action in this field subject to strict supervision by the competent national and allied institutions and bodies. Claims such as those made by official representatives of the Russian Federation represent yet another episode in a hostile disinformation campaign, which is part of a broader hybrid attack aimed at discrediting NATO and EU member states that support Ukraine in its just self-defense against the unlawful full-scale Russian military aggression."