News about Bulgaria: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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On October 28 in Sofia, the defense ministers of three NATO countries agreed on a trilateral coordination mechanism: regular consultations, information exchange, and improved monitoring and early warning of threats. The parties condemned attacks on commercial vessels. The next meetings will be held in Bucharest and Ankara.
Aziz KarimovAccording to Bulgaria's Central Election Commission, after 95.3% of ballots were counted, no candidate received the share needed to win in the first round. Turnout was only 22.2%, while more than 50% was required. The runoff is scheduled for November 1. The campaign took place against the backdrop of disagreements over aid to Ukraine and incidents off the coast.
Otabek YusupovHungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are asking to be released from financial guarantees under the EU's new loan to Ukraine, drawing criticism from Germany. Bulgaria has joined them, although it previously took part in the €90 billion loan. The dispute is complicating negotiations on the EU's long-term budget.
Aziz KarimovIncumbent Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev lead after the first round with 34.759% of the vote, ahead of former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov (31.953%). Turnout was about 22%. The runoff is scheduled for November 1.
Otabek YusupovNo candidate received more than 50% of the vote in Bulgaria's presidential election. According to unofficial data, incumbent President Iliana Iotova (34.6–35%) and former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov (31.9–32.7%) will meet in a runoff on November 1. Turnout was around 22%.
Aziz KarimovTurnout in the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election was below 40%, under the required 50%, so a runoff will be held on November 1. Incumbent President Iliana Yotova (41–47%) and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov (28–31%) lead the race. Key campaign themes are the war in Ukraine, relations with Moscow, energy prices and corruption.
Aziz KarimovAccording to exit polls by the Trend agency, Bulgaria's incumbent president Iliana Yotova received 36.5% of the votes, narrowly ahead of former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov with 32.4%. The gap turned out to be smaller than polls had predicted. More than 50% of the votes with turnout above 50% is required to win in the first round; otherwise, a second round will be held on November 1.
Sardor QodirovA citizen of Uzbekistan who went to work in Bulgaria and, due to wage problems, moved to the Czech Republic was unable to complete his paperwork and was left without means of subsistence. After contacting the consular section of the embassy, he was helped to return home via the Prague — Baku — Tashkent route.
Aziz KarimovOn October 25, Bulgaria holds the first round of its presidential election. The frontrunner is incumbent president Iliana Yotova, backed by the party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev; her main rival is former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov. The campaign has been marked by drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, rising energy prices, and disputes over the course toward Moscow. A second round is likely on November 1. On 25 October, Bulgaria holds the first round of its presidential election. The favourite is incumbent president Iliana Yotova, backed by the party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev; her main rival is former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov. The campaign has been marked by drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, rising energy prices and disputes over the course toward Moscow. The second round is likely to take place on 1 November.
Otabek YusupovBulgaria is preparing for the presidential election on 25 October with a possible runoff on 1 November. The main contenders are incumbent president Iliana Yotova, backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, and former prime minister Andrey Gyurov, supported by the opposition. Drone attacks on vessels in the Black Sea have sharpened the debate over support for Ukraine and the government's foreign policy stance.
Javlon TursunovFollowing a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at ambassadorial level, NATO announced the deployment of additional reconnaissance, monitoring and expertise assets to the Black Sea. The meeting was convened at the initiative of Romania and Bulgaria due to the growing threat of drone use in the region. The statements were made by Alliance spokesperson Alison Hart.
Sevara AzamovaBulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the country will not participate in allocating €70 billion to Ukraine, which Volodymyr Zelensky requested at the EU Council. Earlier, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia also refused, and Brussels is looking for alternative financing options.
Javlon TursunovTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, discussing bilateral ties, trade cooperation, shipping security in the Black Sea, and a drone attack in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. Erdogan also invited Radev to the COP31 leaders' summit in Antalya.
Javlon TursunovBulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that a US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft is conducting reconnaissance over the Black Sea following drone attacks on commercial vessels. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stressed that the aircraft belongs to NATO and has no strike capabilities. Over the past month, four vessels have been attacked in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, two of which sank.
Sevara AzamovaBulgarian prosecutors suspect two 19-year-old German nationals of deliberately setting fire to Starlink antennas near Sofia on October 9. A court in Sofia granted the prosecutors' request. The head of Bulgaria's DANS intelligence agency considers it a targeted act of sabotage. The case follows arrests in Germany over a similar incident in Poland.
Otabek YusupovRomanian President Nicușor Dan, in an interview with Euronews, said the Black Sea will become safe only after the end of Russia's war against Ukraine, and called for stronger NATO oversight in the region. After drone attacks on commercial vessels off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, he and Bulgarian leader Rumen Radev raised the security issue at the EU summit in Brussels and met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Otabek YusupovOvernight into Tuesday, two cargo ships were attacked by drones off the Bulgarian coast. HS Dignity, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, sank near the village of Krapets: five were rescued, 11 are missing. The crew of the Malta-flagged ship Chelsea-3 was rescued. Bulgaria summoned the Russian ambassador; President Rumen Radev said the consequences of the incidents serve Russia's interests. Moscow has not officially commented on what happened.
Otabek YusupovAt the EU summit, Bulgarian leader Rumen Radev backed the deal on Russian diesel supplies agreed by Trump and Putin despite Western sanctions, citing high fuel prices in Europe. Other EU leaders condemned the agreement: Kaja Kallas called it a "gift for Putin," and Ulf Kristersson — a step in the wrong direction. Radev also criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries.
Otabek Yusupov
