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Bulgaria has been living in crime for several months. “Goodbye, my handsome” is perhaps the most appropriate title for the job that the country and its prime minister are writing while traveling wisely through regions far from the capital. In the past few days, several new elements have been added to the script, which are unlikely to change the end result, but intensify the intrigue. Russian spies (again), Macedonian harams and a beautiful lady took the stage.
Bulgaria and Russia: words and deeds
Russian spies in Bulgarian crime are quite banal. His revelation does not surprise anyone; the questions are rather why it is happening right now and why it is not happening more often. The answer to the first question is clearer: at this time, both the government and the prosecution have an interest in strengthening the trust (to the extent that it exists) of Western partners.
Of course, there is no doubt that the detection of foreign spies is a positive fact that shows that the Bulgarian immune system continues to function. Borissov even used the occasion to share his conversation with Putin, in which our representative explicitly warned the Russian president that such spy numbers do not work in our country. Fairy tales are one thing, actions are another. Vladimir Vladimirovich must have been surprised by this announcement, recalling the Bulgarian position (formulated by the Borissov government) on the Skripal case. Then Bulgaria sided with Russia (“there is not enough evidence”). Since people connected with Russian services had previously carried out a similar operation on the territory of Bulgaria (against Gebrev). In words, the Russian numbers do not pass, but in fact they do not. And from the Russian point of view, the important thing is that Bulgaria has built with its own funds a parallel to an existing gas pipeline, so that Russia can release gas from wherever it wants, be it through Turkey or Ukraine. And let Bulgaria think if the United States imposes sanctions on the project: then, even if the gas pipeline is not realized, the cost will be for us and we can pay fines to the Russian side.
Thus, the case of the Russian spies raises a really serious question: how is it possible that Bulgaria, a member of NATO and the EU, is almost always in disagreement regarding certain Russian interests? We buy reactors we don’t order, build a gas pipeline that could be a new museum exhibit of unused Russian equipment, repair Russian planes and tanks, etc. In such a situation, it is mandatory to detect Russian spies from time to time, because otherwise many will wonder to which alliances we really belong.
The “truth” for the Macedonians
Relatively small countries can have weight in international relations only if they follow the following rules (the Scandinavians have developed this theory). First, your positions must be principled and consistent. From there, they must be able to form coalitions and have the resources to defend their positions. However, Bulgaria follows the Byzantine school, not the Scandinavian one: it changes its position as it suits it at the moment. The problem is that Byzantium was an empire that the world had to fulfill, while Bulgaria today is simply a sovereign country within a union of 27 countries. With rebellious, unprincipled, and selfish behavior, we cannot have weight and influence.
And here we come to the Macedonian harams. During the EU presidency, Bulgaria increased its weight in the EU by taking a position of principle on the enlargement of the union to the Western Balkans. A coalition of countries was formed, in the EU and in the Balkans, which together with Bulgaria supported this cause. Concrete steps were taken to improve relations between the countries of the region, especially between Greece and Macedonia, which even changed its name to North Macedonia. All this was and is of interest to Bulgaria: the integration of the Balkans would launch all the countries of the region into a higher orbit of development.
However, misunderstood “patriots”, dressed in ducal uniforms, are about to put their gags on the wheels of this historical process. Deputy Prime Minister Karakachanov announced that we will block negotiations with North Macedonia if it does not recognize Gotse Delchev as Bulgarian (and does not accept the Bulgarian version of the story as a whole). This is not an individual action of IMRO; unfortunately, GERB and Borisov support the general change in our position. For IMRO, this will surely bring in a few more nationalist votes, but the result for Bulgaria is purely negative. First of all, we position ourselves as a major issue for North Macedonia on its way to the EU; this cannot make us friends in this country. Second, we want something from a country that is unprecedented: to give up its own version of its identity and history. Even if this version is not historically correct, history is not a matter of negotiations between countries. The historical truth is proven with research and studies, not with the blackmail of a negotiating table. Such extortions only bring an insult that cannot be forgotten. Third, instead of actually improving our connection with Macedonia (roads, communications, etc.), we are wasting time “negotiating” history. Fourth, our position in the EU is becoming as incomprehensible to other countries as Greece’s position on the Macedonian name. And what did the Greeks “win” in the end? Macedonia has become North Macedonia, which only reminds that somewhere there is a southern one. By the same method, what we can expect is to divide the story in two: the story of the north and that of the south.
All of this brings comic elements to the crime, but it also shows a deep problem. To consolidate power for another month or two, Borisov is inclined to abandon the key priorities of the country, to ensure the obedience of the “patriots.” Allowing your request to amend the constitution through referendums and have them held on all issues is such a damaging commitment. It could lead the country on a difficult populist trajectory for years to come.
The beautiful lady
But let’s end with something nice, with the beautiful lady. According to Borissov, in addition to the drones, President Radev sent her beauties to take pictures of her locker and put money and gold in it. Well, this twist on the script is already beyond the standard cliches, admittedly. The prosecution will surely follow in the footsteps of this sinister and spicy scheme to discredit the national favorite and the teller of ever more incredible stories. Which, however, does not cancel the process of saying goodbye to him.
