Russia Uses Decades of Propaganda to Influence Balkan Politics, Says Kiril Petkov

Former Bulgarian PM Calls for Seizure of NIS Refinery, Cites Political Interference in Serbia’s Fuel Market

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has urged Serbia to take control of the “Oil Industry of Serbia” (NIS) refinery, suggesting the facility should be offered to Western operators through an open auction to reduce fuel prices for Serbian consumers.

“Use the sanctions to take control of the refinery and offer it to an open auction for the best Western operator who can provide the lowest fuel price for Serbia. The decision is completely clear,” Petkov stated in a comprehensive interview with Serbian news portal “Savremena Politika.”

The former prime minister highlighted that fuel prices in Serbia remain “significantly higher than in Bulgaria,” creating an unnecessary financial burden on Serbian citizens and businesses. Petkov suggested this price disparity isn’t merely market-driven but indicates potential political manipulation.

“Companies and citizens pay more because of this,” Petkov noted, adding that “someone is trying to influence the government and the way the work will be done.” He characterized the situation as an intervention around a key Serbian resource “from which someone is currently making a huge profit,” calling it “an excellent example of how the system works.”

NIS, majority-owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom Neft, operates Serbia’s only oil refinery and holds a dominant position in the country’s fuel market. The company’s operations have come under increased scrutiny since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent international sanctions against Russian entities.

Petkov didn’t limit his criticism to the energy sector, identifying “corruption and Kremlin interference as the biggest problems in the Balkans.” He described how Russia employs “culture, education and decades of propaganda” to influence political decisions across the region, claiming that Moscow views the Balkans as “their sphere of interests” and opposes the region’s integration into the European Union.

The former Bulgarian leader shared his personal experience confronting Russian influence during his tenure as prime minister. “I was Prime Minister after Boyko Borisov, and Bulgaria was one hundred percent dependent on Russian gas, oil and nuclear fuel. I had 70 agents of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate who were working all over Bulgaria – and whom we expelled,” said Petkov, who co-founded the political party “Continuing the Change.”

According to Petkov, Russian tactics in the region often involve collaborating with corrupt local politicians who “sound pro-Western, but in practice work for Russian interests.” This approach has been particularly effective in energy-dependent countries throughout the Balkans.

The endemic corruption across the region allows political figures to “use public resources for their own benefit,” Petkov explained, while portions of society have developed vested interests in maintaining the status quo. “The fault is not with the politicians. The question is how much our people are ready to tolerate corruption,” he remarked.

Petkov lamented that the Balkan region “fails to function as a community of 65 million people” due to historical divisions, Russian meddling, and poor political leadership. He pointed to a lack of regional coordination and noted that opposition parties “often worked against each other” rather than forming united fronts against corruption.

The former prime minister’s comments come amid ongoing debates about energy security and Russian influence throughout Southeastern Europe. Several countries in the region have taken steps to diversify their energy sources and reduce dependence on Russian supplies following the invasion of Ukraine, though progress remains uneven across different nations.

Energy experts note that reforming ownership structures and market operations in the oil sector could potentially reduce consumer prices, but such moves would likely face significant political and legal challenges, particularly in countries where Russian economic interests remain deeply entrenched.