Bulgaria votes as Black Sea drone strikes sharpen divide over Russia and Ukraine
Bulgarians vote on 25 October in a presidential race led by incumbent Iliana Iotova, who favours diplomacy with Moscow, and pro-Western challenger Andrey Gyurov. The campaign has been shaped by drone attacks on ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast; Prime Minister Rumen Radev said their outcome benefits Russia, while the government said there was no evidence directly linking Moscow to the strikes.
Bottom line — Alpha Research put Iotova at 41% and Gyurov at 28%, pointing to a likely 1 November runoff.
Go deeper 6
-
Reuters reported that the attacks on merchant ships likely killed about two dozen international seafarers.
-
Reuters said Bulgaria sought allied help to strengthen maritime security; a US P-8 reconnaissance aircraft began patrolling the Black Sea, according to AFP.
-
Iotova and Gyurov both condemned the strikes, but differ over Ukraine: Iotova calls for a diplomatic end to the war, while Gyurov supports Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv, according to Reuters.
-
AFP reported Iotova opposes military aid to Ukraine and argues that weapons supplies risk prolonging the conflict.
-
DW reported that concern over the government’s response to the attacks has fuelled protests in Sofia and contributed to a decline in Iotova’s polling support.
-
Al Jazeera reported that energy prices and inflation were also campaign concerns, particularly for rural voters.
techwithnani.blogspo…