A major scandal has erupted in the Bulgarian political sphere, triggered by the Ministry of Defense's intention to purchase Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters and their spare parts from Poland. The initiative by Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has met with sharp criticism from the parliamentary opposition and youth organizations.
Demand for "Western equipment"
One of the first to make a sharp statement was MP Ivaylo Mirchev from the "Democratic Bulgaria" coalition. In his opinion, the country's rearmament strategy should be based exclusively on the acquisition of modern aircraft that meet NATO standards. The politician expressed bewilderment at the fact that, at a time when the country is supposed to integrate into the Western military bloc, Bulgaria is considering the purchase of Soviet MiG-29s.
Mirchev warned that the country should not turn into a "graveyard of Soviet aviation." He reminded that many NATO member countries are already abandoning the operation of these fighters, and Bulgaria should not go against this trend.
"Moskvich" protest at the Ministry of Defense building
The youth organization "Yes, Bulgaria" joined the criticism of the Defense Minister. As a sign of protest, representatives of the movement staged a picket at the Ministry of Defense building, parking an old "Moskvich" car there.
The organizers explained their action by stating that Dimitar Stoyanov is demonstrating obvious nostalgia for the socialist past. According to them, if the minister is striving to bring Soviet-era equipment back into the army, then it is quite logical that a "Moskvich" should be standing in his personal garage. Organization representative Todor Petrov stated that Stoyanov is making unjustified decisions and is categorically against Bulgaria becoming a "dump" for old Russian military equipment.
Competition for Polish fighters
Against the backdrop of internal disputes in Sofia, the situation is complicated by the geopolitical context. Ukraine has been trying to negotiate with Warsaw for the transfer of MiG-29 fighters for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a long time. However, it recently became known that the Bulgarian authorities have also shown serious interest in these aircraft, creating competition for a limited resource.
Previously, various scenarios for the fate of these machines were discussed in Poland, including the possibility of writing them off instead of transferring them to Kyiv. Nevertheless, Ukrainian authorities confirmed their readiness to continue negotiations with the Polish side on the provision of fighters, despite the emergence of a new claimant for this equipment.
