Bulgaria’s Reputation at Stake
Bulgaria’s reputation is increasingly under threat as international scrutiny intensifies. Recent developments—Bulgarian citizens standing trial in a London court on charges of acting as agents of the Russian secret services and suspicions surrounding the Bulgarian-owned ship Vezhen in the Baltic Sea cable-cutting incident—have put the country in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
What Bulgarian security services and prosecutors choose to ignore—whether the GRU’s attacks on Bulgaria’s military industry or attempted poisonings of Bulgarian citizens (with no idea on which Russian spies were successful)—continues to surface through international scandals. When such revelations become a pattern, they can no longer be dismissed as coincidences.
The Growing Influence of Russian Intelligence
It is no accident that Bulgarian citizens are among the most frequently recruited by Russian intelligence in the EU after it imposed severe visa and movement restrictions for holders of Russian passports. Due caution is warranted, as investigations are ongoing in Sweden, and a trial is unfolding in London. However, the broader context is clear: Bulgaria has a long-standing, high-level political “understanding” between GERB leader Boyko Borisov, President Rumen Radev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This understanding has been reinforced by agreements between the Bulgarian and Russian Prosecutor Generals, effectively allowing Russian intelligence operatives to act with impunity in Bulgaria.
Key elements of this arrangement include Russia’s protection of critical assets used by Russian oligarchs and state companies—most notably the Turk-Balkan Stream pipeline and Lukoil’s refinery in Bulgaria. A crucial part of the deal is the ‘tacit’ agreement that if Russian agents (who lack diplomatic immunity) are caught red-handed, they should be expelled rather than prosecuted.
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The clearest proof? Despite numerous expulsions of Russian operatives engaged in espionage and terrorist activities, not a single Russian agent or their Bulgarian accomplices has ever been brought to justice during the rule of GERB or Radev. Not a single one!?
The ongoing trial in London, which has revealed links between the accused Bulgarian spies and high-level politicians, has made it nearly impossible for Bulgarian authorities to control the narrative. What we witnessed in the National Assembly’s debate on the issue was yet another demonstration of the usual crisis-management model: “Stay silent so no one else hears.”
However, such an ostrich strategy is futile. The silence of Bulgarian politicians will not prevent Western media from exposing the facts to a much wider audience. We can pretend there is no scandal, but there is—and it is a serious one. Membership in the EU and NATO does not grant immunity to politicians and interest groups who believe themselves untouchable. The Magnitsky sanctions are proof of that. Verdicts in other EU country courts are another.
The “Vezhen” Case and the Baltic Sea Cable Incident
The same logic applies to the Bulgarian-owned ship Vezhen and the suspicions surrounding its involvement in the severing of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. While premature accusations should be avoided, it is equally absurd to insist that “there is no way we are involved” or “there is no scandal at all.”
Domestically, Bulgaria may choose to downplay the issue, but the international consequences of such negligence could be far-reaching—especially if the ship is found to have played a role in the cable disruption.
Investigations of this nature often begin with a single incident—an anchor cutting through critical infrastructure, for example. But once a ship falls under international scrutiny, its entire record will be examined:
- What was Vezhen transporting from Ust-Luga, a Russian port where nearly all shipments are subject to sanctions?
- How frequently has it visited Russian ports?
- Where did it travel afterwards?
From this point forward, Bulgarian citizens and vessels risk being perceived as natural suspects in Russian covert operations—creating a distorted image of Bulgaria’s true stance on such matters.
The Need for Transparency and Accountability
What the Bulgarian Parliament should have emphasized is that Sweden has an independent judiciary and will not accuse anyone without solid evidence. However, the same cannot be said for the political and reputational risks Bulgaria now faces.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian radical Kostadin Kostadinov continues to spew misinformation—clearly lacking even a basic understanding of ship flag jurisdiction and international maritime law. His ignorance is drowned in verbosity and empty rhetoric, but the facts remain clear.
When Can a Country Detain and Inspect a Ship in Its Territorial Waters?
Under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a coastal state has the right to detain and inspect a foreign vessel within its territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles from the coast) under the following circumstances:
- Sovereign Control – The coastal state has full sovereignty over its territorial waters, just as it does over its land. This allows it to detain and inspect ships for security, law enforcement, and regulatory purposes.
- Customs, Tax, Immigration, and Sanitary Laws – A foreign vessel may be detained if there is reasonable suspicion of violating local regulations.
- Security Concerns – If a ship is suspected of engaging in illegal activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking, or terrorism, the coastal state has the right to inspect it.
- Environmental Protection – Ships suspected of polluting territorial waters or violating environmental laws may be inspected and sanctioned.
- Right of Innocent Passage – Foreign ships have the right to pass through territorial waters peacefully. However, if a vessel threatens peace, security, or public order, it can be stopped and inspected.
Diplomacy and International Law: Not a Job for Amateurs
Diplomacy, when intertwined with international law, is not a task for just anyone. It certainly cannot be built on silence and denial.
When faced with credible allegations and growing international scrutiny, the only viable path forward is transparency, accountability, and a firm commitment to the rule of law. Anything less risks further isolating Bulgaria and eroding what remains of its credibility on the global stage.
Ilian Vassilev
