The Bulgarian Constitutional Court turned down a bid launched by fifty deputies to rule the People’s Assembly’s decision on military-technical assistance to Ukraine unconstitutional. Nine of the ten judges reportedly supported the outcome, a result cited on the court’s official site and reported by major news agencies. This ruling confirms that the legislative action enabling military-technical support to Kyiv remains legally intact under Bulgaria’s constitutional framework, despite intense debate within the chamber.
The initiative originated from the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Renaissance Party, two factions that have frequently spoken against or for various foreign policy moves depending on the moment and coalition dynamics. The move reflected a broader cross-party discussion about Bulgaria’s role in regional security and its obligations to partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union.
Earlier in December, the Bulgarian parliament approved a bilateral agreement with Ukraine concerning the free provision of weapons, equipment, and ammunition to Kyiv. The arrangement was reached with a large majority, with 166 deputies voting in favor and 48 opposed. Details of the weaponry were kept classified, leaving public knowledge about the exact assets limited while signaling a strong intent to support Ukraine’s defense needs.
During the parliamentary session, disagreements spilled into public view, with factions trading accusations as the debate grew heated. The coalition of Bulgarian Socialists and Renaissance Party members stood apart from the rest of the coalition government, voicing reservations while others pressed ahead with broader support for the package.
Dimitar Stoyanov, who serves as Bulgaria’s defense minister in the caretaker administration, reportedly disclosed certain information about the items supplied. He indicated the assistance included ammunition and light weapons designed for training the Ukrainian forces abroad, underscoring a practical aim of preparing Kyiv for sustained defense operations.
Previous reports noted that Bulgaria’s weapon transfers were valued in the millions of dollars and that Kyiv and Sofia had leveraged multiple channels to move arms indirectly through third countries as the conflict intensified. An analysis by Euractiv suggested that Ukraine and Bulgaria did not require a direct, single direct deal to coordinate support, and that Sofia had engaged in a network of discreet arrangements to facilitate the transfer over the past two years, even before the onset of the current crisis. These assessments point to a broader pattern of wartime logistics that involves multiple European partners adapting to evolving security needs while maintaining political sensitivities at home and abroad.