Happy Friday! After yesterday's diplomatic demarche on behalf of the caretaker government, which blamed Turkey for interfering in last weekend's Bulgarian election, Ankara retaliated today. The Bulgarian ambassador to Turkey Angel Cholakov was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and was told that Ankara has "greeted with dismay the unfounded claims" of election interference about which its ambassador had been summoned in Sofia the previous day. On Thursday, both the Interior and the Foreign ministries of Bulgaria claimed that Turkey has mustered support for MRF in the election for President and Parliament. This is not the only diplomatic debacle Bulgaria found itself in on Friday.
Ukraine slams President Radev over "Crimea is Russian" comment
The incumbent candidate for President Rumen Radev angered Kiev after he told his opponent Anastas Gerdjikov that "Crimea is currently Russian" during the first and only televised presidential debate on Thursday evening. Bulgaria's ambassador to Ukraine Kostadin Kodzhabashev was summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Friday and was told that the country rejects claims made by the Bulgarian Head of State. The Ukrainian side described Mr Radev's comments as "incorrect" and "unacceptable" in a statement. Mr Kodzhabashev reiterated Bulgaria's firm commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Over 60 percent of electricity produced by Coal in October: Ember
Data collected by the environmental organisation Ember shows that coal remains at the heart of Bulgaria's energy mix. In October of this year, just over 60 percent of energy produced was generated in coal-powered power plants, compared to only 47 percent in October of last year. In comparison, Bulgaria produced the least amount of energy from coal in June, when only 24 percent of the energy came from coal, while 47 percent were produced by the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. In the EU as a whole, coal-powered plants were responsible for only 17 percent of energy production in October.
Interior Ministry and Customs Agency to work directly with Kovesi's EU Prosecution
The Ministry of Justice announced on Friday that Sofia authorised two more institutions which would be able to signal the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) for financial and other investigations, relevant to the work of the joint EU prosecution. These are the country's Interior Ministry and the State Customs Agency, which are now able to notify EPPO, led by former Romanian Specialized Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, for ongoing investigations that might be falling under the institution's auspices. Until now, such notifications could have been sent only by the Supreme Prosecution of Cassation.
Happy Friday! After yesterday's diplomatic demarche on behalf of the caretaker government, which blamed Turkey for interfering in last weekend's Bulgarian election, Ankara retaliated today. The Bulgarian ambassador to Turkey Angel Cholakov was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and was told that Ankara has "greeted with dismay the unfounded claims" of election interference about which its ambassador had been summoned in Sofia the previous day. On Thursday, both the Interior and the Foreign ministries of Bulgaria claimed that Turkey has mustered support for MRF in the election for President and Parliament. This is not the only diplomatic debacle Bulgaria found itself in on Friday.
