RUSSIA-EUROPE/TRAVELBAN BULGARIA Bulgarian diplomat not surprised by Russian travel ban

Record ID: 149536

  • Title: RUSSIA-EUROPE/TRAVELBAN BULGARIA Bulgarian diplomat not surprised by Russian travel ban
  • Date: 30th May 2015
  • Summary: SOFIA, BULGARIA (MAY 30, 2015) (REUTERS) BULGARIA'S FORMER AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA ILIAN VASSILEV CROSSING STREET VASSILEV TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE)(English) ILIAN VASSILEV, FORMER BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA, SAYING: "I was expecting something along this to happen for quite some time because I was briefed that the embassies in respective countries were putting to
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bulgaria
  • Country: Bulgaria
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA15QJS77QY3LZZ88EFI1RPD20E
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bulgaria's former ambassador to Russia, Ilian Vassilev, said on Saturday (May 30) he wasn't surprised at being included on Moscow's list of 89 EU politicians and military leaders barred from entering Russia.
    Russia has imposed an entry ban on those named on a list seen by Reuters, a move that has angered Europe and worsened its standoff with the West over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict.
    Vassilev said he had been warned in advance of the move.
    "I was expecting something along this to happen for quite some time because I was briefed that the embassies in respective countries were putting together a blacklist of potential people that Russia would not like to see on its territory and that was approximately a month ago, so I was expecting this to happen any moment but on this particular list I was briefed by a friend at the European Commission," he said.
    The list, which says it was compiled by the Russian foreign ministry and handed to a European Union delegation in Moscow this week, includes outspoken critics of Russia as well as security officials.
    Other names on the list include Britain's former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and former Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt, who heads the Liberal group in the European parliament.
    The list also carries the names of several former and acting ministers, such as Poland's deputy Justice Minister Robert Kupiecki and former British defence minister Malcolm Rifkind, as well as Swedish tax authority head Eva Lidstrom Adler.
    Vassilev said he was surprised to be included among such prestigious figures.
    "I was surprised because the company is quite distinguished and I was humbled by the presence of vice prime ministers and ministers for foreign affairs, and so I have quite a more modest role, I am just writing strategic analysis," he said.
    Vassilev served as Bulgaria's ambassador to Russia from 2000 to 2006, before becoming Chairman of Deloitte in Bulgaria and an advisor on energy related matters to successive Bulgarian governments.
    He said Moscow's travel ban list was a concerning development.
    "The most worrisome part is that they are indicative of a new level of potential new confrontation that is upcoming, because Putin is trying to replicate the situation in Georgia where his troops were advancing and he was able to rush in President Sarkozy and EU was basically forced to negotiate a peace so therefore he needs a new situation where he is on the advance in east Ukraine or other fronts so he can force the EU and the West into a new bargaining that would spare for him Crimea's annexation and particularly keep his control over Ukrainian fate," he said.
    The Russian Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
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