Bulgaria has faced a difficult winter without blue gas from Russia as Sofia weighs the options after Russia’s suspension of deliveries. Russian senator Alexei Pushkov publicly suggested that Bulgaria should be free to run the winter without Russian gas, raising questions about the rationale for continuing supplies to a state he described as non-hostile. Bulgarian officials have indicated that the Cabinet is studying potential steps to restore gas flows from Gazprom, though the situation remains unsettled.
Pushkov stated that Bulgaria should be given the chance to decide its own energy path for the coming months, and he criticized the idea of maintaining gas supply to a country he characterized as hostile. His remarks, shared via his Telegram channel, reflect ongoing geopolitical tension and the broader debate over energy security and regional loyalties.
Gazprom halted deliveries to Bulgargaz on April 27 due to a dispute over payments under a new settlement plan promoted by Moscow, which requires settlements in rubles and foreign currency through Gazprombank accounts. One account accepts foreign currency, the other is funded through rubles, with Gazprom ultimately receiving the funds. This shift occurred amid Russia’s broader policy toward unfriendly countries and currency arrangements.
In Bulgaria, responses to Russia’s payment changes were mixed. Bulgargaz chief executive Lyudmil Yotsov reportedly treated Gazprom Export’s requests for ruble payments with skepticism at times, later acknowledging the matter during a meeting of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR). He recalled that there was a belief that gas supplies would continue if payments were made in U.S. dollars, noting that the matter was initially seen as a joke.
By early August, Bulgargaz’s board chairman Ivan Topchiisky confirmed ongoing negotiations with Gazprom but indicated that the contract details would need adjustment. He pointed out that the current agreement dates to before the end of 2022, suggesting that Gazprom could propose changes if necessary. There was openness to the possibility of resuming Russian gas, dependent on new terms and mutual agreement. A media pool report indicated that many observers awaited renewed talks between Gazprom and Bulgaria, particularly from Bulgaria’s technocrat government.
The government at the time described itself as technocratic, considering all options, including the possible resumption of Gazprom supplies. Officials emphasized exploring alternative suppliers first, but they warned they would not tolerate price spikes or supply interruptions during winter. The tone suggested a practical approach: keep energy security front and center while weighing political and economic realities.
Bulgaria had already been placed on a list of unfriendly states by Russia earlier in the year, reflecting Moscow’s response to a series of actions by Sofia deemed unfriendly. The list covered 48 countries and underscored growing tensions between Russia and several European states during a period of renewed sanctions and political realignments.
On August 8, Moscow declared 14 Bulgarian embassy and consular staff members persona non grata, prompting Bulgaria to respond. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry announced that personnel at its missions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, along with colleagues at the Bulgarian Industrial Center in Moscow, were asked to leave within 120 hours. Russia’s Foreign Ministry framed this as retaliation for Sofia’s decision to dismiss a portion of Russian staff and to impose caps on Russian diplomatic and technical personnel in Bulgaria, while temporarily closing the Russian Consulate General.