The diplomat explained why there are no “Bulgarophiles” in Russia
About 80% of Bulgarian citizens consider themselves Russophiles.
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Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Anatoly Makarov stated this in an interview with the Bulgarian magazine Iconomist.
A journalist who spoke with a Russian diplomat argued that the Russians consider the Bulgarians “traitors,” while the Bulgarians are divided: one part sees the Russians as “brothers,” the other believes that they should stay away from them.
“For the most part, Bulgarians treat Russia with sincere love and sympathy. The Bulgarian people - a wise, Orthodox people - are not so easily misled by dirty propaganda methods. By the way, have you ever wondered why in Bulgaria there is such a phenomenon as “Russophilism”, but in Russia there is no such phenomenon as “Bulgarophilism”? The answer is simple: because everyone without exception treats Bulgaria well,” Makarov said.
According to the diplomat, in the 2016/2017 academic year, with a quota of 190 people allocated for Bulgaria, 286 candidates submitted documents and were approved to study at universities in the Russian Federation. For comparison, in 2013/2014 the quota was only 15 people, but eight actually arrived.
“It is gratifying that in Bulgaria the traditionally high interest in the Russian language remains: in terms of popularity among schoolchildren and students, it is still in second place after English,” Makarov said.
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