Vladimir Putin is 'playing games' with Europe to CONQUER IT, Bulgarian president warns
BULGARIAN President Rosen Plevneliev has accused Russia of dividing Europe to conquer it, warning Europe isn’t doing enough to stem the tide of Russian rule.
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Mr Plevneliev, who accused Russia of levelling a cyber attack against Bulgaria, has claimed that while the world has not returned to a state of Cold War it is instead experiencing “dangerous and unpredictable” era of “cold peacetime”.
It comes after fears from eastern European countries were heightened following the annexation of the formerly Ukrainian region of Crimea by Russian backed troops.
Mr Plevniliev said: "The game in Europe today is not to have a full-scale war and to shoot against your enemy, but the game of Mr Putin is to make other countries dependent.
"What today Russia is trying to achieve is to weaken Europe, to divide Europe and to make us dependent."
He claimed the EU needs to be stronger if they are going to stem the tide of surging Russian power
He went on to claim that while Nato is a worthy defence for nations, Bulgaria needs the EU to be stronger in able to help fight against powerful Russian influence.
He added: “Nato is strong, I also wish the European Union also could be stronger and united on the problems we have today."
Political scientist Martin Vladimirov said: "Russia has been able to leverage its economic influence to capture key institutions in the country.”
Mr Plevneliev claimed we are in a state of 'cold peacetime'
Mr Vladimirov, based in Bulgarian capital Sofia, also claimed Russia uses its power to fund protests and influence laws.
It comes as Finnish intelligence agencies claim Russia is secretly buying up plots of land in the country to prepare for an invasion.
Security police force SUPO claimed foreigners were purchasing sites in Finland to house Russian troops, according to Finnish tabloid Iltalehti.
It comes as Finnish intelligence agencies claim Russia is secretly buying up plots of land
Fears from eastern European countries were heightened following the annexation of Crimea
A SUPO report submitted to a parliamentary committee reportedly warned: "These measures may be caused by preparations to influence a forthcoming crisis situation.
"They could be land transactions, which do not appear to be business or related to the normal real estate value."
The agency added that the land purchases could be used by a "foreign state in a crisis situation to take advantage of, for example, the closure of transport routes or unmarked accommodation of troops".