The Yes, Bulgaria party, which is part of the opposition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition, demands that the ministers of energy, economy, and finance be heard today in Parliament’s Energy Committee, after the United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on Russian oil company Lukoil. MP and Yes, Bulgaria co-chair Ivaylo Mirchev warned that the refinery must in no case fall into the hands of the Bulgarian mafia, as that would be even worse than the current situation.
Lukoil and the only oil refinery in Bulgaria and the largest in the Balkans.
Mirchev said the sanctions are a serious message from the US and that the Burgas refinery is key to the country’s strategic infrastructure.
“Bulgaria must quickly decide what measures to take so that there is no fuel crisis and to adequately respond to the consequences of Washington’s sanctions against Lukoil. The faster the Burgas refinery is freed from Lukoil, the better for our country and its independence from Russian influence,” Mirchev said.
He also said, “[MRF – New Beginning leader] Delyan Peevski wants to buy the Lukoil Neftochim refinery, to take control of its entry and exit points, and to drain it dry, just as Multigroup was drained 20 or 30 years ago. It is necessary to act quickly to ensure that the refinery comes into the hands of a normal foreign investor, preferably Western, so that we are not dependent on Putin’s whims and so that Bulgarian consumers do not suffer because of what he is doing in Ukraine,” Mirchev stressed.
The MP added that the risk for the refinery to be acquired by Bulgarian mafia is considerable, as the country relies mainly on the refinery for its fuel, and the sudden imposition of sanctions carries the potential for a fuel market crisis. Mirchev also recalled a number of proposals made by his party for the state to have a representative in the refinery so that its interests are properly protected.
Asked to comment a legislative proposal that the sale of Lukoil be subject to approval by the State Agency for National Security (SANS) – rather than an interagency committee – Mirchev rcalled his party’s position that such legislation would serve the interests of Delyan Peevski.
He believes this is most likely related to interests concerning the oil refinery and a building in the very heart of Sofia, that is owned by Russia.
Also, Mirchev said that Western intelligence services have already significantly limited information-sharing with their Bulgarian counterparts. “The reason is simple. They know that SANS is under the control of a political leader sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act. People in the services know this, it is known at all levels, and it is a disgrace for our country,” Mirchev concluded. Opposition Yes, Bulgaria Warns Against “Mafia Takeover” of Lukoil Refinery in Burgas THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-10-23 10:20:57 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
