Bulgaria (21st Century Crisis)

Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, tr. Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Република България, tr. Republika Bǎlgariya), is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Yugoslavia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The capital and largest city is Sofia; other major cities are Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. With a territory of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi), Bulgaria is Europe's 16th-largest country.

The Bulgars founded the first unified Bulgarian state in 681 AD which dominated most of the Balkans and significantly influenced Slavic cultures by developing the Cyrillic script. The First Bulgarian Empire lasted until the early 11th century when Byzantine Emperor Basil II conquered and dismantled it. A successful Bulgarian revolt in 1185 established a Second Bulgarian Empire which reached its apex under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241). After numerous exhausting wars and feudal strife, the Second Bulgarian Empire disintegrated in 1396 and its territories fell under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 resulted in the formation of the current Third Bulgarian State. Many ethnic Bulgarian populations were left outside its borders, which led to several conflicts with its neighbours and an alliance with Germany in World War I. In 1946 Bulgaria became a one-party socialist state and part of the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc. The ruling Communist Party gave up its monopoly on power after the Revolutions of 1989 and allowed multi-party elections. Bulgaria then transitioned into a democracy and a market-based economy.

Interwar Period
During the Interwar Period, the Bulgarian monarchy began a process of de-Germanization and de-Catholicizing of Bulgaria. He broke ties with his Catholic, German and Italian relatives, and founded the House of Boris.

Tsar Boris III divorced his wife, Giovanna of Italy and married a Bulgarian woman by the name of Desislava, and it is through Desislava that Boris III would choose his legitimate heirs.

All Bulgarian diplomats, military leaders, intellectuals and any representing member of the Bulgarian state were required to be Orthodox, and if not born into a Bulgarian Orthodox family, were to convert, and their children were to learn only Bulgarian as a native language.

Boris III infamously laid out his speech, "This is not Germany, not Italy or Austria-Hungary, this is Bulgaria. The people of Bulgaria need a Bulgarian monarch, and a royal house that is of Bulgarian background, speaks native Bulgarian and follows the Church of Bulgaria, not the Catholic church of Rome. It is, through my children with Desislava that the House of Boris shall continue."

Boris III and King Peter II of Yugoslavia signed the Treaty of Friendship and Unity Between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Kingdom of Bulgaria, which allowed ethnic Bulgarians their own autonomy in Yugoslavia. Thus, the Autonomous West Bulgaria Region of Yugoslavia was formed.

Nonetheless, Boris III still allowed German to be taught as compulsory in schools, though gradually replaced German and promoting other major Slavic languages such as Russian or Serbo-Croatian.

However, Tsar Boris III was limited in his foreign policy, in that Russia was now under a communist and state atheist regime. Boris III welcomed the influx of Russian White emigrés, and it is through these emigrés that Boris III used to keep the state position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, allowing Russian Orthodox near-equal status to that of the Bulgarian church. Russian was the only other language untouched by Boris III's nationalistic policies.

As much as 310,000 Russians fled to Bulgaria, as Bulgaria, as well as the neighboring Yugoslavia, were havens to White Russians fleeing from Soviet Russia.

World War II
During the Second World War, Hitler was not happy with Tsar Boris III eliminating German dynasties of Bulgaria, and sought to restore a Germanic ruler for Bulgaria. Abdulmejid II of Turkey, has his own imperial ambitions, to restore the Ottoman Empire, and restore Turkish hegemony in the Balkans.

Boris III attempted to swallow his pride, and get help from the Soviets, but Stalin refused to listen to his warnings. Therefore, Boris III and King Peter II of Yugoslavia were forced to fend for themselves, fighting a struggling beginning of the war against the Axis. Both monarchs established well-armed guerilla forces, as part of their "Plan B", just in case the state militaries fell to the Axis invasion (which they did).

While the armed forces of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria were busy fighting the Turkish invasion, the Germans obliterated the already-beleaguered forces of both nations. This led both countries to go to Plan B, in which, the "Partisans", communist and agrarian paramilitaries, offered the most effective resistance against the Axis powers. Bulgarian paramilitary received assistance from both the Soviets and Western Allies.

Because Sergey Sedov was leader of the Soviet Union, therefore the Soviets were not as bad against the Germans, Sedov was able to send Soviet aid to Bulgaria.

When the Soviets and Western Allies reached Turkey, Yugoslav and Bulgarian partisans also partook in operations against Turkish military bases.

Under Georgi Dmitrov, the Russian community of Bulgaria was still protected, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was still in many respects, protected, but Roman Catholicism and Islam was also protected, as per the rules of equality in being a socialist and communist nation.

Georgi Dmitrov entered Bulgaria into the Balkan Federation, with Yugoslavia, Albania and North Turkey, a move approved and allowed by the Warsaw Pact.

However, Bulgaria remained friendly to Westerners, as a tourist destination, the same can be said of Yugoslavia, but Yugoslavia was not a Warsaw Pact member.

Petar Stoyanov era
During the Petar Stoyanov presidency, Bulgaria further strengthened ties with the West. Stoyanov strengthened Bulgarian ties with Germany, encouraging educational and innovation between Bulgaria and Germany.

Bulgaria participated in the American-led campaigns in the Middle East, and allowed NATO troops to conduct drills in Bulgaria.

Petar Stoyanov attempted to ban the Communist Party of Bulgaria. As per being a Balkan partner, Stoyanov also forged closer ties with Yugoslavia and President Ivan Lokar.

However, Lokar, being anti-NATO became rather distrustful of Stoyanov, fearing that NATO is using Bulgaria to place a thorn in Yugoslav influence in the Balkans.

Georgi Parvanov era
During the Georgi Parvanov era, Bulgaria went through a roller-coaster ride. Parvanov supported and spearheaded Bulgaria's membership into NATO. It is through the Parvanov government that Bulgarian leaders made a serious attempt to advance the country's role in the world stage.

Parvanov continued efforts to promote Bulgarian culture worldwide, via athletes, celebrities and politicians. However, he still supported the "social democracy", and believed that Bulgaria's membership in the European Union would help eventually achieve this goal in the country.

Parvanov also enacted programs to fund hospitals and health institutions in the country, selling many assets to German and Russian bussinessmen. Parvanov paved the way for German and Russian banks to lend to Bulgarian businesses.

Parvanov also strived to remain active in European Union politics, in an attempt to further Bulgaria's position in the world stage. Via this, countries like Germany, United States, United Kingdom and Russia began to fund and support the Bulgarian arts. Georgi Parvanov opened the first Bulgarian Cultural Center in Chicago, which receives funding from a mix of entities.

Georgi Parvanov also looked to Ivan Lokar, wanting to strengthen the ties between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

While the Parvanov presidency grew closer to Russia, Bulgaria remained a NATO and European Union member state, however, the Bulgarian government began to limit NATO personnel using Bulgarian territory, and Parvanov was criticized for siding with Yugoslavia in the Kosovo conflict. Parvanov often acted as a mediator between Russia and the European Union.

At the same time, Bulgaria grew close with Russia, but not quite a "Russian ally". Some notable progress was made during the Parvanov presidency.

However, some of Parvanov's ideas, such as the support for the South Stream pipeline garnered pressures, and even threats of sanctions and expulsion from the European Union. In addition, the European Union began to pressure to Bulgaria to send aid to North Syria, in their war against South Syria. It is Parvanov's indecisive actions to these pressures that led to his downfall. Parvanov reluctantly sent Bulgarian contingents to North Syria, paving the way for the rise of nationalists and pro-Russia movements.

Many of these Bulgarian troops often went rogue, helping Russians in South Syria.

Krasimir Karakachanov era
During the 2011 presidential elections, nationalist and conservative Krasimir Karakachanov of the United Patriots Party, a veteran of the Bulgarian Army, won the presidential election. A nationalist who had a hatred of NATO and the West, Karakachanov wanted to mimic Ivan Lokar's success as president of Yugoslavia, and sought closer ties with Russia, making it plain that Georgi Parvanov's policy of making Bulgaria a Russia-friendly EU and NATO state was "just not possible", stating, "it is either Russia or NATO".

He stated, "Petar Stoyanov screwed us over and sold out the pigs of the West, because of some lies and myths about rags to riches, Georgi Parvanov was more-so, caught inbetween, trying to create a middle ground. It just wasn't and isn't feasible, it is either Russia or NATO."

Karakachanov on the Parvanov presidency, "The issue with Georgi Parvanov is that he tried to promote Bulgaria worldwide, when Bulgaria was in no position to advance. Our celebrities are sitting on mountains of cash, while farmers, steel and industrial workers, technicians, scientists, as well as all the other valuable humane capital, are jobless, and fleeing to the United States and the European Union. This is what happens when the most powerful and elite earn their money from entities hostile to Bulgaria and to Bulgarian interests."

However, creating a pro-Russia Balkan union with Yugoslavia had came a wrong time, as Yugoslavia was now under a progressive and pro-European Union government under Ivo Josipović.

Many Bulgarian celebrities also began to criticize Karakachanov, accusing him of being a fascist, a dictator, and "Tsar Boris IV" (in reference to Tsar Boris III's nationalist regime). Karakachanov took this as a "badge of honor".

However, Josipović still worked with Karakachanov and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to strengthen cultural and educational ties.

Karakachanov increased loaning from Russian banks, in small increments. However, many American banks refused to loan money to Bulgaria, citing corruption as their mode of concern. However, Germany continued to allow banks to loan to Bulgaria.

Karakachanov looked to Russian and Yugoslav leaders on how to eradicate and eliminate crime, corruption and fraud in Bulgaria.

He also sought help from former Yugoslav Oresident Ivan Lokar, whom he viewed as the "miracle of Yugoslavia" and developed close relations with. In addition, Krasimir Karakachanov became frustrated with Bulgarian liberals wanting to eliminate the Orthodox church as the state religion, as well as wanting to integrate Bulgaria into the European Union. However, in not wanting to damage Bulgaria's HDI, Karakachanov did not suppress pro-EU or pro-NATO material in Bulgaria, but warned proponents of both groups not to "force him to".

Unlike the previous presidents, who placed emphasis on subsidizing and promoting athletes and celebrities, Karakachanov subsidized farmers via loans from Russia, and made concentrated efforts to provide jobs and security for rural and working people, and provided grants for innovators and engineers to study in Russia and the United States, similar to Ivan Lokar's policies in Yugoslavia.

This would begin an era in recent modern Bulgarian history known as the "purge". Karakachanov solidified government control over the National Bank of Bulgaria to ensure security for Bulgarian accounts.

Proclaimed corrupt politicians and Europeanists were jailed, which upset the United Nations and human rights organizations across the world. People such as Rumen Radev, Boyko Borisov and Atanas Atanasov fled as political exiles.

When accused of promoting far-right fascism, Parliamentary Spokesperson Volen Siderov stated, "No, at this point, it's not a right or left issue, it's a Bulgarian issue, it is patriots again s Europeanists. The European Union and Islamists, who work hand in hand with one another, are the enemies and threats of the Bulgarian nation. The right-wingers are sick the European Union and NATO, the socialists and communists are sick of the European Union and NATO, the resistance against Western imperialism, is a united effort. If you want to talk about a left-right divide, which by the way, is an instrument of Western imperialism, go to America, the source."

Karakachanov signed the South Stream pipeline deal with President Dmitry Medvedev, and signed extended deals with Russian businessmen to conduct business in Bulgaria, seeing potentials in Varna, Plovdiv and Burgas to become "Balkan super cities" similar to those in Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania.

By 2014, Bulgaria was a NATO member, only by name, exiting NATO in 2015. In 2016, with Krasimir Karakachanov's re-election, Bulgaria joined the Russia-led CSTO and closed off its borders to migrants from Turkey, and further threatened to bar the Turkish government from funding mosques in Bulgaria. Both Bulgarian and Russian governments supported "Turkish witch-hunts", supporting Orthodox paramilitary to persecute Muslims.

Prime Minister Nikolay Berekov proposed instead converting Ottoman-era mosques in Bulgaria to Bulgarian Orthodox Churches or museums. The Banya Bashi Mosque in Sofia was shut down, and Bulgarian authorities are assessing its future use as a non-mosque, although due to its historicality, destroying it has been definitely ruled out.

Karakachanov also decided to aid Yugoslavia in the Balkan conflict, sending troops to Kosovo.

The Bulgarian Euromaiden Protests ensued, in which pro-European Union and pro-NATO protesters attempted to depose of Karakachanov, in a failed attempt. It is at this point when the Bulgarian government began to suppress pro-European Union material.

Under Karakachanov, Bulgarian economy saw an increase rise, leading to improvements in Bulgarian society, and its military.

With the advent of the Trump presidency, sympathetic to Russia, Krasimir Karakachanov once-more became open to relations with the United States, Trump praising Karakachanov as the "Vladimir Putin and Ivan Lokar of Bulgaria".

During a diplomatic visit to Bulgaria, Trump stated, "I hope we can get to a point where relations between Bulgaria and the United States can normalize once more, the previous administration messed it up for sure."

Religion
Currently, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is the largest religion in Bulgaria, followed by Islam and irreligious people.

Under President Krasimir Karakachanov, Bulgaria is a self-proclaimed "Christian state". The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is Bulgaria's national religion, all political candidates for presidency and prime minister position must be Bulgarian Orthodox.

All Orthodox holidays are national holidays in Bulgaria, all public establishments, with the exception of law enforcement and medical facilities, close in those holidays.

In 2014, President Krasimir Karakachanov signed a law authorizing public schools to have small chapel-like rooms dedicated for praying. However, in keeping with Bulgaria's constitutional freedom laws, makes it completely optional for students.

Education
Education has significantly improved in Bulgaria. Sofia University is one of the world's renowned chemistry and biology universities in the world. Ever since forging close ties with Yugoslavia, Germany, Russia and the United States, Sofia University has significantly grown.

The Stranski-Mandeleev Center of Chemistry and Sciences was built in Sofia, in honor of both Ivan Stranski and Russian chemist Dmitry Mandeleev.

News
4/7/12 - The construction of the "Royal Complex" in Burgas has been completed in Bulgaria, and will now open to tourists. Over $1.4 billion was spent renovating historical Ottoman fortresses in Bulgaria and turning them into tourist hubs.

German, Russian and Chinese banks loaned the money for the fundings.

After the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, while the fortress was under Russian funding, Bulgaria owned the rights to it. The Palace of the Tsar, the Bulgarian tsar's vacation home, was built here.

During the days leading to World War I, the Imperial Germans built great halls in the area, during World War I, Bulgarian and German troops used the fortress against Serbian forces.

Ever since then, the fortress has become a historical haven. Tourists can now stay in the tsar's palace, along with "royal amenities", for 8,606 lev, or $5,000 USD a night, and an additional 1,721 lev or $1,000 USD for a horse-carriage ride all throughout town.

2/7/16 - Bulgarian military personnel will be going to Russia to receive officer training, as well as anti-terrorism practices. This will be Bulgaria's first major military cooperation with Russia, ever since its Warsaw Pact days with the old Soviet Unio

After Bulgaria exited NATO, Bulgarian president Krasimir Karakachanov filed a request to join the Russia-led CSTO, basically, Russia's own version of NATO. Russian defense minister Sergei Lavrov and his Bulgarian counterpart Andrey Botsev signed a major deal to which would strengthen military ties between the two countries - which Botsev states, will hopefully speed up the process of Bulgarian membership into the CSTO. In this deal, Russia would provide Bulgarian troops extended training in Russian military facilities, with Botsev stating that not only has Bulgaria become a Russian ally once more, but the Bulgarian military needed real upgrading on its training, specifically in the areas of anti-terrorism and anti-corruption.

Today, Russian defense minister Sergei Lavrov stated, "We are very honored and ecstatic to welcome back our old and long-time Bulgarian allies."

Bulgarian president Krasimir Karakachanov stated, "This is huge, a huge accomplishment for transitioning into traitorous NATO puppets and into an ally of the United Russian Republics, a great way to seal our alliance with our true allies, and helps upgrade the integrity of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria." Russia is not the only country that Bulgaria has scheduled. Bulgarian forces are also scheduled to do joint-drills and training with its much its more militarily powerful neighbor Yugoslavia. As a member of NATO, Bulgaria was continually prohibited from doing military drills with Yugoslavia, a CSTO member, whom NATO views as a dangerous adversary.

2/15/16 - Bulgarian troops have returned home from their military training in Russia. Bulgarian Defence Minister Andrey Botsev stated that the Bulgarians were received well in Russia.

Troops were given the traditional bread and salt ceremony. Botsev recalls, "That [bread and salt] is something we were all familiar, and in love with." President Krasimir Karakachanov told reporters, "We're not done, Bulgaria is going to continue getting closer to Russia. I am in the process of reaching deals with President Vladimir Putin to have Russian military personnel pay a visit to Bulgaria, as well to assess our facilities for CSTO use."

Before leaving, President Karakachanov and Defense Minister Botsev presented their Russian counterparts with large boxes of baklava, a popular dessert in all of the former Ottoman Empire, to which Putin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Lavrov described as "Absolutely delicious, packed with love, and a tasteful sign of a sweet future between our nations."

11/20/18 - Today, Bulgarian and Yugoslav nationalist paramilitary groups have gone to southern Russia to help Russia confront their Ukrainian counterparts.

Recently, relations between Ukraine and Russia have once more, flared up as Ukrainians are wanting to withdraw from the 2012 Russia-Ukraine Border Agreement.

The Russian republics of Donetsk, Luhansk, Crimea and East Ukraine are claimed by Ukrainians as being Ukrainian territory.

On the Russian side were, but not limited to, Russian military veterans, Russian nationalists, Russian communists, ethnic Ukrainians of Russia, and members of the Russian Orthodox Army, a Orthodox paramilitary group. Aiding them were the Bulgarian Orthodox Army, non-partisan Bulgarian nationalists, the Serbian Orthodox Army and Yugoslavian nationalists.

On the Ukrainian side were supporters of the Ukrainian government, as well as the Right Sector, Ukrainian nationalists notorious for supporting Ukrainian Axis supporters.

Dimitar Glauchkov, from Plovdiv, Bulgaria stated, "We Bulgarians and Russians are brothers, we will always stand with Russia."

Maxim Andruschenko, an ethnic Ukrainian from East Ukraine and a supporter of the Russian government on the Russian side stated, "I am Russian, my citizenship is Russian, I am Russian first and Ukrainian second. I may be of Ukrainian background, but we Ukrainians are no different from Russians. True Ukrainians stand with Russia."

Although nobody was physically injured, lots of bad-mouthing and yelling between supporters of Ukraine and that of Russia.

Soon, the military and police of both nations were deployed.

11/26/18 - Today, Ukrainian exiled ex-President Viktor Yanukovych arrived in Bulgaria and was received by President Krasimir Karakachanov and Prime Minister Nikolay Barekov.

Yanukovych was for the most part, received well by Bulgaria. Many people held signs reading "True President of Ukraine", "True Ukrainian" and etc., in addition to many waving Ukrainian. Bulgarian, Russian and CSTO flags.

As a matter of fact, President Karakachanov referred to Yanukovych as "President Yanukovych", not "Mr. Yanukovych".

When Yanukovych was deposed in 2014 for supporting the 2012 Russia-Ukraine Border Agreement, both Bulgaria and Russia offered him asylum.

Afterward, photos streamlined social media of effigies of Petro Poroshenko being hanged.

Todor Kolarov, an artist and comic book writer from Sofia, presented the Ukrainian with a caricature drawing of him, Krasimir Karakachanov, Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Birčević, President of Yugoslavia, re-conquering Kiev and hanging Poroshenko, in a similar fashion as the Soviet capture of Berlin.

Radomir Lyubenov, a local from the city of Burgas, who attended the rally in Sofia, wearing a shirt with the flags of Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia fused into one stated, "Ukrainians should stand with Russia! They are Slavic Orthodox brothers, Viktor Yanukovych is a true Ukrainian! This Petro Poroshenko guy is not a real Ukrainian, but a fascist and a Nazi, anyone who supports him is an enemy of the Slavs, plain and simple."

However, many Bulgarians were not pleased, pro-Europeanists held counter rallies, calling Yanukovych a disgrace and holding up signs calling him a "pig" in the native Bulgarian language (прасе).

11/27/18 - Today, the Ukrainian government was not happy with the Bulgarian government's welcoming of Viktor Yanukovych, ex-President of Ukraine.

President Petro Poroshenko stated, "Why am I not surprised? They (the Bulgarian government) are infested with Russian puppets and agents like Krasimir Karakachanov."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian nationalists burned Bulgarian and Russian flags in front of the Bulgarian embassy in Kiev.

Milo Yevtushenko, one of the protesters stated, "How can Bulgaria do this? We were very close to Bulgarians, but they turned their back on us by siding with the aggressor [Russia] and their puppets [Krasimir Karakachanov]!"

Protesters yelled and chanted "sanctions", wanting the United States, the European Union and the Ukrainian government to issue sanctions against Bulgaria.

12/5/18 - Today, Bulgaria revealed the complete plans to build a large amusement park, slated to be the largest in the Balkans. The name has not yet been chosen.

The city of Burgas, one of Bulgaria's coastal cities and economic centers, has been chosen to be the future site of this amusement park.

Amid all the political chaos, Bulgarian banks have been making deals and agreements with Russian and German banks, in turn, that money was lent to engineering and technology companies across Bulgaria.

More money will be lent, and in turn, used to pay the construction companies hired to build the site.

Burgas city mayor Dmitar Nikolov stated, "I am proud of the mayor of the city that shall host this magnificent work."

One of the most unique aspects of this amusement park is its inclusion of things atypical to amusement parks, including a shooting range and dance hall.

The park will also have concert areas for venues and such.

12/19/18 - Today, Bulgarian president Krasimir Karakachanov commented on the joint Russian-Egyptian operations that killed ISIS members in South Syria. Karakachanov stated, "Hats off to Russia and Egypt, they make great allies'."

12/19/18 - Despite the on-going hostilitie Russia and China (to which Turkey is an aligned ally with), both the parliaments of Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Greece allowed for the admission of Turkey into the Balkan Federation.

President Krasimir Karakachanov of Bulgaria, who has traditionally held conservative, nationalist, pro-Eastern Orthodox, Russophilic and anti-Turkish views, stated, "In spite of heated relations between Russia and China, as well as our historical beef with Turkey, econonic and educational relations must continue."

Turkey, after being kicked out of NATO, and rejected by the CSTO, had joined the SCO, stating that it had "no other option".

While the Chinese government offered an opposing response, the President Vladimir Putin of Russia stated, "They [the Balkan nations], can do what they want. The Balkan Federation is such a unique bloc, and can literally create an independent global power bloc of their own. Whether they are CSTO or NATO, or SCO, or any or non-aligned, let them, projects such as the Balkan Railway have seriously benefitted the Balkan nations."

However, the presidents of the three made it clear they would not allow Turkey to use this bloc to promote illegal immigration. President Vladimir Birčević of Yugoslavia stated that all Turkish overseas in Yugoslavia will be under tight watch, and will be required to carry electronic identification cards.

1/4/19 - With a Russian victory secured in Ukraine, Bulgarian troops have returned home from their overseas fight against Ukrainians.

Bulgaria is a member of the Russia-led CSTO, meaning since Russia was attacked, Bulgaria is obligated to help. Defense Minister Andrey Botsev and Commander of the Bulgarian Army Mikhail Popov, who is also the CSTO's Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, confirmed that 300 Bulgarian troops partook in sabotage and access-denial operations in Ukraine.

As promised, Bulgarian troops have returned home for Christmas, as three days from now, Orthodox Christmas takes off.

However afterwards, Bulgarian military personnel will be returning to Ukraine, for humanitarian, not combat operations as Russia and its allies help Ukraine recover from war.

Approximately 190,000 Ukrainians are displaced, with an estimated 7,100 dying in casualties, and another 13,000 injured.

2/21/19 - Today Bulgarian president Krasimir Karakachanov took a swing at celebrities who criticized him for his "autocratic-like rule" in Bulgaria.

Celebrities Nina Dobrev and Nikoleta Lozanova made statements opposing Karakachanov's presidency in Bulgaria, and calling for all "....rationale-minded Bulgarians to resist the fascist and autocratic regime".

President Karakachanov stated, "How many NATO bases and NATO personnel are left in Bulgaria? That's how much I care what these silver spoon punks think or say about me or my administration. They are celebrities, they live their lives in lavishness, self-entitlement and complete and utter drama, they know nothing about politics, and have no educational backgrounds in politics or history. I don't care what they say or think about me, or what their fans think of me, they've done nothing good for Bulgaria."

Nikoleta Lozanova stated, "The current regime serves Russia, not Bulgaria, they answer to Russian oligarchs. I have nothing against Russians or Russian culture, but I certainly do have a problem with the tyrants that rule Moscow."

In other news, United States Vice President Brock Lesnar made a random and unannounced visit to Bulgaria. Vice President Lesnar has been harshly criticized for never attending meetings, attending only 1/37 scheduled bilateral meetings.