Reply by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova to a question from TASS News Agency

Question: Can you comment on reports in the Bulgarian media saying that German Chancellor Angela Merkel allegedly persuaded President Vladimir Putin to support Kristalina Georgieva as Bulgaria’s candidate for UN Secretary General rather than Irina Bokova, Sofia’s previous candidate?

Maria Zakharova: Just recently, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, the German Federal Chancellor did attempt to raise the question of Russia’s possible support for a Bulgarian candidate other than the officially proposed candidate. Ms Merkel received a very clear and unambiguous response that proposing a candidate for the post of UN secretary general is each individual country’s exclusive and sovereign decision and that any attempts, direct or indirect, to influence such a decision are unacceptable. 

We’ve seen publications in the Bulgarian media saying that Russia is allegedly taking part in this game to switch candidates, and that the Bulgarian government plans to change its decision and put forward a different candidate under pressure from some external parties. There is no other way to qualify this but as an attempt to draw our country into behind-the-scene deals.