Bulgaria Lost Much by Labelling Russia as Enemy – Presidential Candidate

Bulgaria has lost a lot by letting its relations with Russia chill, Bulgaria’s former air force chief and candidate for presidency at the upcoming elections Rumen Radev told local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Bulgaria’s ties with Russia soured after the start of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 when the European Union accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraine’s domestic affairs. Russia denied having a hand in the eastern conflict.

"Bulgaria must have an independent foreign policy. Bulgaria must follow its own objective. We lost a lot by more or less declaring Russia our enemy," Maj. Gen. Radev told Darik News on Saturday.

The former air force commander said it was time for the Eastern European nation to look for friends, rather than enemies, especially for economic and trade partners. Russia could become a lucrative market for Bulgarian companies, he noted.

Bulgarians will go to the polls on November 6 to elect a new president. Radev has been endorsed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).