The Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria is at the center of a scandal over the awarding of a certificate of honor from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a medal to Bulgarian politician, oligarch, media mogul and sanctioned mafia member Delian Peevski, reports UNN with reference to SEGA.
On November 20, in Bulgaria, Delian Peevsky was awarded the medal "For Special Merit to the Ukrainian People" on behalf of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. The award was presented by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria Olesya Ilashchuk.
This information was made public in a message sent to the Bulgarian media by the party's press center.
The short letter states that the medal was presented by Her Excellency Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria. She expressed gratitude to DPS-New Faces chairman Delian Peevski for supporting Ukraine during the 1000 days of Russian aggression.
The post about the awarding of Delyan Peevsky was posted on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission.
The news of Peevski's award caused a wave of indignation in Bulgarian society, which views this move as a serious diplomatic defeat.
Critics attribute this award to Peevsky's attempts to position himself as a supporter of the Euro-Atlantic course, despite the US and UK sanctions for corruption.
Although Pejovsky often claims to have a strong Euro-Atlantic stance, he has repeatedly supported decisionsin favor of Russia over the years.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the scandal. UNN has contacted the Foreign Ministry for comment.
Add
Mr. Peevski is not only a controversial figure in Bulgaria, but also a subject of corruption charges in the United States. He is under sanctions under the Magnitsky Act. And on February 10, 2023, Peevski was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for "abuse of power by diverting public funds to his own benefit.
Recall
Ambassador Ilashchuk became known for her scandalous appointment, as she was appointed to the post with experience in psychotherapy and sexology.
Later, the Foreign Ministry said that she did have the appropriate qualifications, but experts called her appointment a "strategic failure.