Peter Volgin is a Bulgarian journalist and Politician. Peter Volgin openly used his platform on Bulgarian public radio to spread pro-Russian views. This caused a big uproar, leading to protests outside the state radio headquarters in Sofia in February 2023. People were demanding that his show, “Politically Incorrect,” be taken off the air.
Given his clear support for Russia, it was not surprising when Volgin announced in April that he was taking a break from his radio show to run for office. He decided to run as a candidate for the far-right, pro-Russian Revival Party in the upcoming European Parliament elections on June 9, 2024.
Volgin is one of several pro-Russian candidates hoping to win one of Bulgaria’s 17 seats in the European Parliament. These elections will happen at the same time as another election to choose deputies for Bulgaria’s National Parliament. This will be the sixth such election since 2021, as the country has faced ongoing political instability.
BNR state radio journalist Peter Volgin, known for his pro-Russian views, has started attending meetings of the “Vazrazhdane” party. This comes after he was nominated as a candidate for the European Parliament by this radical pro-Russian party.
Volgin has not officially accepted the nomination yet, but he has taken unpaid leave from his job at BNR. On April 12, he attended an event organized by “Vazrazhdane” in Sofia. The event was hosted by Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of “Vazrazhdane,” who is banned from entering Ukraine for being suspected of acting as a Russian agent.
The rise of extremist candidates like Volgin in Bulgaria is part of a larger trend seen across Europe. Political alliances seem to be shifting throughout the continent. In December 2023, Volgin interviewed the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova, which led to the BNR leadership banning the broadcast. SEM reviewed Volgin’s broadcasts and noted elements of propaganda in his shows.
Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states will participate in elections to choose 720 members of the European Parliament. These elections happen every five years, with each country getting a number of seats based on its population size. Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the elected members join political groups in the European Parliament that match their parties’ political beliefs.
Peter Volgin’s strong pro-Russian stance has led him to leave his radio show and run for political office. This move reflects a broader trend of shifting political allegiances in Europe, with extremist candidates gaining ground in various countries.
