Envoy: Lukoil may quit Bulgaria over government pressure

Lukoil is considering selling all its assets in Bulgaria due to what it sees as unprecedented pressure from the country’s authorities, Russia’s ambassador to Sofia has said.

Eleonora Mitrofanova said the company’s Bulgarian subsidiaries – which range from operating the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery to running a nationwide chain of filling stations – were facing sustained scrutiny, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“Although Lukoil itself is not subject to anti-Russian sanctions, its subsidiaries here are often subjected to unprecedented pressure from government bodies,” she said.

Mitrofanova noted that in June, Bulgarian authorities launched another anti-monopoly investigation into the firm.

“In such circumstances, it is hardly surprising that Lukoil’s head office in Moscow is considering the possibility of selling all its assets in Bulgaria. As far as we know, no final decision has yet been taken,” she added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev