The foreign ministries of Bulgaria and Italy have reacted sharply after senior officials, including presidents and ministers, were included on a controversial “Russophobe” list published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The two NATO members condemned the move as a political provocation aimed at silencing critics of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Atanas Zapryanov, the Bulgarian Defense Minister, told the BGNES news portal that Sofia would not succumb to the Kremlin’s attempts to incite tensions. He emphasized Bulgaria’s distinction between the Russian people and the policies of the current Russian leadership.
“If upholding international law and condemning wars of conquest is Russophobia, then I do not believe that the 143 countries that condemned Russian aggression at the UN General Assembly are Russophobes,” Zapryanov said.
The minister emphasized that the government’s stance is rooted in defending democratic principles, not hostility toward Russia’s citizens.
Moscow also labeled former Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev, ex-Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, and former interim Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev as “Russophobes” alongside Zapryanov.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the designation a personal insult and condemned it as part of Russia’s historical tradition of repressing dissent.
“The tsarist regime, and then the communist regime, have a long and persistent tradition of condemning freedom of speech and thought, devoid of meaning, legality, and right. This is part of an ancient cultural tradition that, unfortunately, is preserved with maniacal diligence,” Crosetto said.
He expressed particular outrage at the inclusion of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, describing him as “a wise and impartial person” respected across the political spectrum.
Crosetto stressed that he has always admired Russian culture and has built decades of human and professional ties with Russians. However, he bemoaned the representation of a great nation by caricatured soap opera characters like the minister’s spokeswoman.
The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador in Rome to lodge an official protest over the inclusion of President Mattarella and other senior officials on the list.
Crosetto said the move revealed Moscow’s sensitivity to criticism of its actions in Ukraine.
“I understand that they felt offended by the truth about Ukraine, but to see that they want to conquer and subjugate it is enough not to be blind, not to be dependent on them, or stupid,” he concluded.
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