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The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the call of the State Duma of the Russian Federation to recognize the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Both districts declared themselves independent of Ukraine shortly after the annexation of Crimea by Russia following a referendum.
So far, only partially recognized (by countries such as Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Syria) South Ossetia has accepted their independence. Already in 2014, at a meeting in Minsk with the mediation of the then leaders of France and Germany Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel, protocols were signed demanding self-government in Donbass and the Law on the special status of the two districts. At the moment, even Russia has not officially recognized the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, despite accusations by the West and Ukraine that it is behind the funding and support of the separatists.
The position of the Foreign Ministry says that Bulgaria invariably supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including in its territorial waters, and does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea.
“Bulgaria condemns the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation, leading to an unprecedented escalation of military tensions in Europe to the levels of the Cold War, and calls for de-escalation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Foreign Ministry states that the actions of the Russian pParliament for the recognition of the independence of the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” and “Donetsk People’s Republic” are absolutely unacceptable and are tantamount to denouncing the Minsk agreements. “They do not contribute to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, on the contrary – they will further increase the danger of military escalation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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