Bulgarian MPs Override Veto, Approve Armored Carrier Transfer to Ukraine
8 December, 2023 BTR-60PB-MD1 armored personnel carrier on parade in Bulgaria.
2006. Photo by Kiril Kapustin Bulgarian MPs override President Rumen Radev's veto of the transfer of armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
Sofia Globe reported on this. Bulgaria's National Assembly voted on December 8, 2023, to override the President's veto on the agreement between Bulgaria's Interior Ministry and Ukraine's Defence Ministry on supplying armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. The decision to override the veto was passed with 161 votes in favor and 55 opposed.
On December 4, 2023, Radev vetoed the ratification of the agreement, stating that the MPs had not properly considered alternative options for using the equipment. The President noted that it could be used by the border police or the Fire Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
BTR-60PB-MD1 armored personnel carrier in Bulgaria. Photo from open sources
The ruling majority in Bulgaria's parliament stated its plans to override the presidential veto.
Back on November 22, the Bulgarian Parliament ratified an agreement to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a batch of armored personnel carriers from the Bulgarian police stockpile. The agreement provided for the free transfer of about 100 wheeled armored personnel carriers with existing weapons and spare parts from the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs depots. The Soviet-era armored personnel carriers, which were to be handed over to Ukraine, were purchased several decades ago.
The vehicles were not used, and the Bulgarian Interior Ministry spent money on their storage.
BTR-60PB-MD1 armored personnel carrier on parade in Bulgaria.
2009.
Photo credits: wikipedia.
A preliminary joint conclusion of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs showed that transferring armored personnel carriers would not harm Bulgaria's defense capabilities.
Read more about the feasibility of restoring BTR-60 armored personnel carriers in the article on Militarnyi
As Militarnyi reported, the Bulgarian parliament's defense committee approved the transfer of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and surface-to-air missiles of various types to Ukraine to strengthen its air defense.