Bulgaria's ruling GERB party distanced themselves from Ataka party leader Volen Siderov's visit to Crimea and the statements he made there.
"Volen Siderov does not represent the government's foreign policy. We do not accept his visit as normal," GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said.
During his visit to the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea, Siderov talked with the Head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, attended a major economic forum in the seaside resort of Yalta, and took part in a discussion about the EU and Russia.
Bulgarian media quoted him as saying in Yalta: "Crimea is not an annexed or occupied area, as the hybrid-war-mongers describe Crimea's joining Russia."
He also noted: "Europe-Russia relations are still in a crisis but this will not last long."
Siderov said Bulgaria has a wonderful chance to act as an intermediary between the EU and Russia while presiding over the EU Council in the first half of this year.
Siderov's party, Ataka, is a member of Bulgaria's power-sharing nationalist coalition of the United Patriots, in which he is the floor leader.
(BTA)
