Education Minister Defends Ukraine Protocol, Highlights Support for Bulgarian Diaspora

Acting Education Minister Prof. Sergey Ignatov stated during a briefing at the Council of Ministers that a significant part of Bulgaria’s intellectual and revolutionary elite historically studied at the Bolgrad High School in the Odesa Oblast. He pointed out that the institution also produced figures such as Academician Alexander Teodorov-Balan, the first rector of Sofia University.

The statement was made in connection with the signing of a protocol between the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science and its Ukrainian counterpart, following a visit by a delegation led by Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov to Kyiv. According to Ignatov, the clarification was necessary due to what he described as circulating fake news that distorts the purpose and meaning of the agreement.

He stressed that education and public awareness are essential tools in countering targeted informational attacks against Bulgarian statehood. Among the priorities outlined in the cooperation framework are the training and retraining of Bulgarian language teachers, the provision of textbooks for students, and continued state support for the winner of the All-Ukrainian Bulgarian Language Olympiad, who will be able to continue their studies in Bulgaria.

Ignatov also said the protocol will be made publicly available on the Ministry’s website to avoid speculation. He expressed appreciation for Ukraine’s support for the Bulgarian community, noting that Bulgarian Sunday schools there are particularly active and that no other European country, in his view, provides comparable conditions for the Bulgarian diaspora.

He further commented that “no matter what Bulgarian language I speak, fake news is constantly floating around,” adding that work on the agreement began in 2022. He also linked the criticism to broader political narratives, mentioning that even events such as the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising had previously been subject to misinformation.

Further reading: Bulgaria's Acting PM Signed the Right Agreement at the Wrong Time for All the Wrong Reasons