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A few days ago, Bulgaria declared another diplomat from the Russian embassy in Sofia persona non grata, about whom there is information that he carried out espionage activities, intelligence activities in which military information was collected, including the number of those stationed in our territory during a US military exercise. The Russian embassy in Sofia announced that it was its military, air and naval attaché, Colonel Vasily Sazanovich. The US diplomatic mission congratulated Bulgaria for defending its security. This was commented by former US ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew.
– Complaints from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that Vasily Sazanovich was gathering information on the participation of American troops in exercises in Bulgaria. What do you know about this?
Pardu: After the United States turned its back on fighting the Putin regime for four years, Russian intelligence has recently become increasingly aggressive in gathering intelligence against NATO members. For example, it was recently established that the Russians were carrying out a large cyberattack against various US government institutions in Washington. I hope the Biden administration will be much more active in countering the Kremlin’s attacks on Western democracy.
It is normal and expected that Bulgaria, as a member of NATO, will take action against Russia when it is shown that Moscow is gathering intelligence in Bulgaria on another member of NATO – the United States.
– Russian officials have accused Bulgaria of following orders from other countries. They obviously refer to the United States. Do you think Sofia is acting on behalf of Washington?
Pardu: I do not know if the Bulgarian or American counterintelligence managed to capture Russian intelligence when it was gathering information in Bulgaria. I suppose the United States would inform Bulgaria if it found out about Russian intelligence operations in the country. And that Bulgaria will take appropriate measures to protect a NATO member state. There is no need to pressure such actions.
– How do you expect the relations between Bulgaria and the United States to develop under the new president Joe Biden? What is, in your opinion, the attitude of the new administration towards Boyko Borissov and GERB?
Pardu: Joe Biden has a wealth of experience in Balkan affairs and I hope his administration is more involved in the Balkans than Trump. People like me, who are concerned about the serious decline of democracy in Bulgaria, certainly hope that President Biden will return to a policy that places a much stronger emphasis on the protection and development of democracy in Bulgaria and other countries in the region. region. .
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