Bulgarian politician says Ukraine should give his country part of its territory

The leader of Bulgaria's pro-Russian Renaissance party, Kostadin Kostadinov, has said that his country can claim Southern Bessarabia, which is part of Odessa Region. Kostadinov stated his claims to the Ukrainian territories in Facebook.

In particular, he wrote that this region has been part of the Bulgarian state for more than 450 years, and the majority of its population are ethnic Bulgarians.

Ukraine is disintegrating, and at the upcoming peace congress, which will decide the fate of the failed so-called Ukrainian statehood, Bulgaria should claim Bulgarian Bessarabia," he said.

Kostadinov also called for Macedonia to be included in Bulgaria, which he believes should also become part of his country.

The Ukrainian embassy demanded that his statement be condemned. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called the Bulgarian politician's statements "unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state and such statements that promote the Kremlin's narratives".

The diplomats called on the Bulgarian leadership to condemn Kostadinov's statements, "inciting the destruction of international law, distorting historical facts and encouraging the redistribution of borders in Europe."

Southern Bessarabia is a region that occupied the southern and eastern parts of the historical and geographical area of Budjak in the southern part of Bessarabia. Now part of the territory belongs to Ukraine, in particular the cities of Bolgrad and Izmail. About 25 thousand Bulgarians arrived in Bessarabia since the beginning of the 19th century. The region has passed from the jurisdiction of one state to another nine times since the beginning of the 19th century.

The Renaissance Party was founded by Kostadin Kostadinov in 2014. It entered parliament in 2022 with 10.2 per cent. The party is known for its pro-Russian stance. Its representatives during speeches incite hatred in society, encourage discrimination, and threaten their political opponents with reprisals.