The Balkans could potentially become Vladimir Putin‘s next area of interest, as suggested by a source that exposes confidential details.
Before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, plans were made to cause problems in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia. This is part of Moscow’s strategy to compete with the West.
The Kremlin’s plan involves training foreign students in Russia and placing them in government institutions in their home countries.
Petar Tanev, who was born in Bulgaria but lived in Moscow for 13 years, talked to Metro. couk about people trying to get him to spread harmful anti-EU and Nato messages.
The person is 23 years old and has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from RUDN University, which used to be famous as the most esteemed university in Russia.
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Several months before Petar completed his studies in 2022, a Bulgarian friend invited him to go on a trip to annexed Crimea. The purpose of the trip was to organize events that would have an impact on the Balkan peninsula.
He said: ‘In the eyes of the Kremlin, students like me are possible agents. ‘ My colleague from Serbia and I were asked to join a project that aims to connect students from Balkan and Crimean regions. The individual who invited us possessed exceptional persuasive skills. He stated that my future representing Bulgaria in Russia held great potential, although it could also potentially go the other way. He already knew that I have citizenship in two countries.
This is a good example of how they make people interested. He told me to bring together other Bulgarians, as well as Serbians and Macedonians, who are living and studying in Russia, to invite them to Crimea as well.
I didn’t speak up because I didn’t want to admit that I am openly against the government in charge of Russia.
This man began calling me every day, but I just ignored him. I talked to my coworker, the person who was hired at the same time as me, and informed them that it seems like there are clear connections with secret intelligence organizations.
He replied, “Even better. ” As I know, he went to Crimea with Bulgarian students. I think they now work in our government departments.
This happened after a recent scandal where three Bulgarians were arrested in the UK, which showed how much the Kremlin has been secretly operating in Bulgaria.
Petar says that many young people from his country go to Russia for their college education.
He also said that the system is similar to the propaganda made by Joseph Goebbels, who was the main person responsible for spreading false information for the Nazi Party in Germany during World War II.
To prevent infiltration, he asked the Bulgarian government to greatly limit the hiring of individuals who have studied in Russia within the past three years or are currently studying there.
Petar emphasized that the government needs to be very careful when hiring someone who graduated from a Russian university when the war started, in order to protect Bulgaria’s sovereignty and security.
Petar remembered another time when he experienced the influence of the Kremlin. It happened when he was a teenager, working for a student group that focused on politics in the Balkans.
At that time, the Ministry of Education in Russia spent a lot of money on propaganda about Bosnia’s region called Republika Srpska, and the impact of Western countries.
Definitely, it is worrying that some people, including many who are citizens of the EU, have been influenced by similar organizations and may have been manipulated by them.
Petar explained that once someone becomes deeply involved in something, it is hard to get out of it.
In addition, the author mentioned that international security agencies have information about individuals who are receiving payment from the Kremlin.
Since the war in Ukraine started, Western sanctions have made it more difficult for Putin’s close associates to use their “official spies”. As a result, they are now using other methods.
Peter said that there are a lot of students who have passports from the EU and are studying in Russia. Using them is the best way to have an impact on political systems in the Balkans.
After coming back to Bulgaria last year, he has been persuading the government to support Ukraine and giving advice to MEPs.
His Instagram page shows the work he is doing to oppose Russia’s war in Ukraine. Recently, he collaborated with Anastasia Shevchenko, a Russian activist who was exiled from her country.
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