Bulgaria does not invite Belarusian envoy to parliament opening

April 10, BPN. Belarusian charge d’affaires Mikita Lešukoŭ and Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova will not be invited to the first meeting of the new Bulgarian parliament on April 12, Sofia-based newspaper Dnevnik reports.

The state opening of Parliament is normally attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister and government ministers. Justice officials and foreign ambassadors are also invited. The proposal not to invite the Russian and Belarusian envoys in order to demonstrate Bulgaria’s attitude towards the war in Ukraine was tabled by Democratic Bulgaria.

In October 2022, the envoys were not invited to the opening of the 48th National Assembly, also on the initiative of Democratic Bulgaria.

On April 2, the center-right GERB party won Bulgaria’s election with 26.5 percent. A pro-Western coalition led by Continuing the Change (PP) and Democratic Bulgaria scored 24.9 percent, Politico reported.

Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Bulgaria were established on March 26, 1992. The Belarusian embassy in Sofia has been operating since July 1994.