A Bulgarian politician, Tsvetelina Marinova Penkova has served as a MEP since 2019. Tsvetelina Penkova has also been reported for her views that indicate a tendency towards Russia. Penkova is a member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which has traditionally had connections with Russia
Penkova has been described as having taken pro-Russian positions. This is emphasized in comments regarding her political alignments and pronouncements while in the European Parliament. In 2022, She declined to accept the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism by vetoing the European Parliament resolution.
She did not also cast her vote against crucial resolutions denouncing Russian aggression. The first was the one on the issue in Russia against the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, and the second was against recent actions taken by the Russian Federation against Lithuanian judges. These positions indicate her pro-Russian leanings.
She also resisted the imposition of European sanctions on Russia. Her standing is that Bulgaria should have a transparent and assertive posture in the decision-making processes concerning sanctions on the pan-European level. Penkova has insisted that the EU seek alternative means of improving relations with Russia.
Interestingly, she also did not vote on the Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy – Annual Report 2021, which was aimed at condemning Russia for its assertive foreign policy behaviour. The text had specifically emphasized hybrid threats to the Union, identifying Moscow as its major source.
In another case, she also voted not to take part in the Recommendations on Eastern Partnership countries. These recommendations strongly disapproved of the actions of the Russian Federation, which undermined the core principles and international law norms in the EU Eastern Partnership region, especially in Ukraine. Her abstention from voting on these recommendations suggests support for Russia.
