The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) has stopped broadcasting an interview with Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova after the Ukrainian embassy expressed its outrage.

On Friday, the Ukrainian embassy in Bulgaria expressed "great disappointment and deep bitterness" over the announcement of an interview with Mitrofanova in Petar Volgin's show called Politically Incorrect aired on BNR.

"Providing an opportunity for an official of the aggressor state to speak and conduct propaganda is a gross violation of professional and moral standards of journalism... Participation of a representative of the aggressor state in the national media is not a discussion or exchange of views, but an open support of the Kremlin regim," the embassy stated.

The embassy added that Volgin had invited Ukraine’s Ambassador Olesia Ilashchuk to participate in the show, but stressed that it "has been supporting the narratives of Russian aggression and hybrid war for years" and that the invitation was an attempt to "disguise the TV anchor’s hybrid activities, disinformation and substitution of values, using media independence and freedom of speech".

They added that they had appealed to the Bulgarian parliament and other institutions to draw attention to the situation.

On Saturday, Petar Volgin hinted on Facebook that his interview with Mitrofanova was taken off the air by BNR after the alleged interference of Delyan Peevski, head of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms faction in the Bulgarian parliament.

The day before, Peevski had indeed criticised the BNR for its plans to air an interview with the Russian ambassador, calling her "a representative of the Kremlin regime, whose unprecedented audacity and disregard for the rule of law we have repeatedly spoken out against."

It is worth noting that Peevski is under US and British sanctions for his involvement in political corruption and smuggling. At the same time, the politician has pro-Ukrainian views and actively advocates military assistance to Kyiv.

The Bulgarian National Radio itself has not yet officially commented on the situation. The BNR confirmed to the 24chasa outlet that the interview with Mitrofanova was indeed recorded, but did not specify why it was not shown.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov directly accused Mitrofanova of bribing Bulgarian MPs and conducting sabotage activities against the country.