Ognyan Minchev: Russian FM Could Have Effect on Governmentt Resignation

Bulgaria's government is "wriggling in the deadly grip of the necessity" to serve Russian interests in South Stream and Belene NPP, political scientist Ognyan Minchev believes.

"[Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov's visit could also impact the way the government is to resign, even if it is to resign at all," Minchev told the Bulgarian National Radio.

"If a decision is taken in Moscow... I don't rule out the government could take a turn and say it will not step down," the political scientist argues.

He also believes Bulgaria is facing serious consequences, including fines, if it decides to ignore EU rules and continue its work on the pipeline.

Minchev warned that Bulgaria could not go around European law without facing any response and that Russia should take that into consideration.

His comments came during a two-day visit of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov which started Monday amid reports in the Russian media the main aim of the top diplomat is to hold talks on the frozen South Stream gas pipeline project.

Bulgaria announced in June it would temporarily halt the construction of South Stream to comply with an infringement procedure the EU opened against it a week earlier.

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