DISINFO: Kyiv is angry at Rumen Radev for Crimea comment
SUMMARY
Kyiv is angry at Bulgarian President Rumen Radev for his comments on Crimea in an electoral debate on TV. The president said that Crimea is a part of Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about illegal annexation of Crimea.
President Radev did say Crimea was "currently" Russian. However, he had previously said that Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 was in breach of international law.
Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev confirmed as recently as August 2021 that Bulgaria will continue to be strongly engaged in the implementation of the non-recognition policy of Crimea's annexation. In March 2021, the Bulgarian MFA noted that "the Republic of Bulgaria remains steadfast in its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."
No international body recognises the so-called referendum. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. In June 2021, the European Council decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.