Bulgarian Prime Minister: Sofia Has Evidence of Russian Disinformation Campaigns

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that his government possesses concrete evidence of Russian hybrid attacks targeting the country. The disinformation campaigns, he said, focus on sensitive issues such as Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone and alleged threats to Bulgarian communities abroad.

Targets of Russian Disinformation Campaigns in Bulgaria

Speaking to the press, Zhelyazkov noted that propaganda has been actively targeting the Bulgarian minority in Taraclia, southern Moldova, where the language issue has been weaponized. According to him, these narratives aim to undermine trust in Bulgaria’s EU and NATO membership and to weaken support for Moldova’s pro-European course.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that one of the methods of countering disinformation campaigns is efforts in the educational sector: for example, they are trying to teach the community in Taraclia the Bulgarian language and culture and to create a program under which 300-400 children from this city will visit Bulgaria and get to know their historical homeland.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov was quoted as saying that Russia’s influence continues to operate through traditional narratives, portraying certain countries as belonging to the so-called ‘Russian World’ and asserting presumed rights over the national self-determination of others.

“I am certain that both Bulgaria and Moldova are experiencing a kind of semi-hybrid influence,” Zhelyazkov stated.

According to the Prime Minister, this influence manifests in two primary ways. Official public actors, such as parties or individuals with views closely aligned with Russian narratives, play a political role by undermining public trust in Bulgaria’s strategic decision to fully join the EU and NATO, and in Moldova’s pro-European trajectory.

Propaganda Against the Eurozone

In a commentary for The Ukrainian Week, Rumena Filipova, head of the Institute for Global Analytics in Bulgaria, who researches politics and international relations in Central and Eastern Europe with a focus on media and disinformation, as well as authoritarian influence from Russia and China in the region, said that the disinformation campaign against the euro began even before the European Council decided in July 2025 to give the green light to Bulgaria’s membership in the Eurozone.

For years, pro-Kremlin channels portrayed the euro as a threat to Bulgaria’s sovereignty and a precursor to economic collapse. According to Filipova, Bulgarian governments have struggled to mount effective strategic communications against such narratives. It was only after pro-Russian political forces threatened to push for a referendum on joining the Eurozone that the state began a more visible counter-campaign.

“Indeed, a long and continuous propaganda portrayed the adoption of the euro as an alleged violation of Bulgaria’s sovereignty and as a path to the country’s impoverishment. The strategic communications of the various Bulgarian governments have not always been very visible and effective, despite the declared goal of countering Russian disinformation,” Rumena Filipova said.

Espionage and Legislative Pushback

Bulgaria has also been contending with more direct Russian influence operations. Atanas Atanasov, head of the Committee for Control over Security Services, has been investigating espionage activities by Russian intelligence near strategic facilities, allegedly with the backing of Moscow’s embassy in Sofia.

Meanwhile, the “Continuing Changes”—“Democratic Bulgaria” coalition spearheaded a parliamentary declaration condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine, calling for tougher sanctions, and urging accelerated security reforms. Supported by 112 MPs, the statement also advocates nationalizing strategic assets in Bulgaria currently owned by Russia.

The document envisages joint work between Bulgaria and the EU on sanctions policy toward Russia and military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as well as reforms within the country to counter Russian influence, the modernization of the Bulgarian army, and the nationalization of strategic facilities on the territory of Bulgaria that belong to Russia.

Deep Roots of Pro-Russian Sentiment

Filipova warns that such measures face entrenched public attitudes shaped by decades of historical propaganda. Russian narratives portraying Moscow as a “savior” and “liberator” of Bulgaria remain widespread, reinforced in school textbooks that avoid critical assessments of Russia’s historical role.

According to Rumena Filipova, pro-Russian sentiments in Bulgaria remain deeply rooted primarily because of long-term historical propaganda from Russia that distorts both Bulgarian history and identity. It often claims that Russia is a “savior,” “Slavic brother,” and “liberator,” to whom Sofia supposedly owes “eternal gratitude.”

This distortion also influences perceptions of Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, public opinion has been divided almost evenly between blaming Moscow and blaming Kyiv for the war.

“Such propaganda narratives are also reflected in school history textbooks in Bulgaria, as critical assessments of the usually negative role of Russia in Bulgarian history are silenced and deleted. This also shapes attitudes towards Ukraine—since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, there have been significant differences in the assessment of Ukraine. About 40% believe that Moscow is to blame for the invasion, and about the same number blame Kyiv,” Rumena Filipova said.

Outlook: Political Consolidation or Polarization?

How the Bulgarian government responds to both the adopted parliamentary declaration and the broader challenge of Russian influence will determine whether pro-European forces can consolidate—or whether political polarization will deepen.

The fight against disinformation, analysts note, will require more than isolated legislative acts. It will demand a sustained, multi-level approach combining education, security, and clear public messaging to dismantle deeply ingrained propaganda narratives.