The Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria found itself at the center of a high-profile scandal after it presented an honorary certificate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a medal to Bulgarian politician and oligarch Delyan Peevsky, who is under US and UK sanctions. The case caused outrage among Bulgarian society, where Peevski is one of the most controversial figures accused of ties to mafia structures.
On November 20, in Bulgaria, Delyan Peevsky was awarded the medal "For special services to the Ukrainian people" on behalf of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk. The award was presented by Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria.
This information was made public in a message sent to the Bulgarian mass media by the press center of the party.
The short letter states that the medal was presented by Her Excellency Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria. She expressed her gratitude to Delyan Peevsky, head of the DPS-New Faces, for supporting Ukraine during the 1000 days of Russian aggression.
The post about the awarding of Delyan Peevsky is posted on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission.
The news of Peevski's award caused a wave of indignation in Bulgarian society, which views this move as a serious diplomatic defeat.
Critics associate this award with Pejewski's attempts to position himself as a supporter of the Euro-Atlantic course, despite sanctions from the United States and Great Britain for corruption.
Although Peevsky often declares his firm Euro-Atlantic position, over the past years he has repeatedly supported decisions that played in Russia's favor.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has not yet commented on the scandal.
Peevski is not only a controversial figure in Bulgaria, but also the subject of corruption charges by the United States. He is under sanctions in accordance with the "Magnitsky law". And already on February 10, 2023, Peevskyi was sanctioned by Great Britain for "abuse of power by diverting public funds to his own benefit."
Ambassador Ilashchuk became famous thanks to her scandalous appointment, because she was appointed to the position with experience in the field of psychotherapy and sexology.
Even later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that she still has the appropriate qualifications, but experts called her appointment a "strategic failure."
